Andoni Iraola's first game in charge of Liverpool at Anfield didn't quite go to plan, with his side falling to a 3-2 defeat against Monaco as the new Premier League season draws near
Andoni Iraola's first game in charge of Liverpool at Anfield didn't quite go to plan
Andoni Iraola's first game in charge of Liverpool at Anfield didn't quite go to plan(Image: Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola has admitted to feeling "frustrated" with his side’s performance during the second half of Liverpool’s defeat to Monaco.
The Reds fell to their second defeat of the preseason as they threw away a 2-0 lead at Anfield after first-half goals from Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, eventually falling to a 3-2 loss.
Iraola chose to make a raft of changes during the second period, with a lot of his players still working their way to full fitness after a busy summer, which saw a number of his stars return to training later after being involved in the World Cup.
Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker, Cody Gakpo and new signing Victor Munoz all made their first Liverpool appearance of the summer on Sunday, while Alexis Mac Allister is still not back yet, with the midfielder expected to return to training on Monday.
By the hour mark, Iraola had already replaced eight of his starting line-up, with the new Liverpool boss admitting afterward that many of his players are still some way off being able to complete 90 minutes.
The changes though saw Monaco take more control in the game, much like Leeds did the previous week in Chicago, meaning what was a landmark day for Iraola didn’t end in the manner he had hoped.
Iraola looks on before the preseason friendly match between Liverpool and Monaco at Anfield
Iraola looks on before the preseason friendly match between Liverpool and Monaco at Anfield(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Asked about his experience of taking charge of Liverpool for the first time at Anfield, Iraola told LFCTV: “Yeah, lovely, lovely – especially in the first half when we were pushing and everything was going so well, we were enjoying it.
“The second half has been harsh because when they are expecting you to go and you are not able, and you cannot give them what we wanted, it is frustrating, yes.”
The Reds have just two weeks to go now until they get their season underway at Newcastle on August 23, although the build-up to that game hasn’t quite been ideal.
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Iraola is short of options in defense at the moment, with teenager Ifeanyi Ndukwe, who is ineligible for the forthcoming season, having to fill in alongside Virgil van Dijk against Monaco. Jeremy Jacquet is expected to finally play a part next week against Como though, while Ronald Araujo’s loan move from Barcelona should be confirmed soon.
Rather more concerning for the new Liverpool boss at the moment though is the condition some of his players appear to be in.
“I think we are, right now, we won the first two games, but the last two, we cannot sustain the level that we want for all the game,” Iraola admitted.
"As soon as we made some changes, they start to get tired, we cannot sustain that level, so we have work to do."