Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has voiced concerns regarding his squad’s physical endurance and consistency following a 3-2 friendly defeat to Monaco at Anfield on Sunday. The result marked the second consecutive match in which the Reds surrendered a two-goal lead, mirroring a 4-2 loss to Leeds United in Chicago earlier this month. These recurring lapses have raised questions about the team’s readiness ahead of their Premier League opening fixture against Newcastle United on August 23.
The match began promisingly for Liverpool, with Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz establishing an early advantage. However, the momentum shifted as Monaco fought back through an Aleksandr Golovin penalty and a goal from Mika Biereth, before Paris Brunner secured the victory with a late header. Iraola, who took charge in June following the dismissal of Arne Slot, noted that the pattern of the match was strikingly similar to the recent defeat against Leeds.
Reflecting on the performance, the 44-year-old Spaniard observed that while his team excelled during the opening 30 minutes, they currently lack the stamina required to maintain that intensity for a full 90 minutes. Iraola explained that the players begin to fatigue as the game progresses, particularly after substitutions are made, noting that the squad is not yet capable of sustaining the desired level of play throughout the entire duration of a match.
The fixture saw the return of key figures including captain Virgil van Dijk, goalkeeper Alisson Becker, and winger Cody Gakpo, all of whom were making their first appearances since the World Cup. Additionally, new signing Victor Munoz made his debut for the club as part of a raft of 11 second-half changes. Iraola acknowledged that while there were positive takeaways, the team clearly has significant work to do before the start of the competitive season.
Regarding the integration of the squad, Iraola emphasized that the players require more training time to reach full fitness. He admitted that the team is currently experiencing both positive and negative phases, but stressed that they cannot afford to let their standards drop as they have in recent outings. He noted that Monaco deserved their comeback, having been the superior side during the second half.
The manager also provided an update on new signing Jeremy Jacquet, who has been sidelined by a shoulder injury sustained in February and recent knee complications. Iraola confirmed that the club is adopting a cautious approach with the player’s recovery. Although there was consideration to include him in the squad for the Monaco friendly, the staff opted against it, expecting him to be available for the next fixture, despite the recovery process taking longer than initially anticipated.
Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz put the Reds ahead, but like against Leeds last week in Chicago — when Liverpool were two goals up but lost 4-2 — they were unable to preserve their lead.
