Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola has issued a message to the club's supporters, with the Spaniard looking for an improvement from his side in their final pre-season friendlies
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola claps fans during the pre-season friendly match between Liverpool and Monaco at Anfield in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Jorge Horsted/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola(Image: Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola has thanked Liverpool fans and backed his team to overcome the “problem” it has faced over its last couple of games of sustaining the levels the new head coach expects.
The Reds play their final pre-season games on Sunday as they face a double-header against Italian side Como at Anfield. The first of the two games will be played behind closed doors before supporters are given the chance to watch the second outing.
The start of the new Premier League season is now just a week away, with Liverpool set to kick things off at Newcastle on August 23 - although there have been concerns that Iraola’s side might not be quite ready.
It has been a mixed pre-season so far for the Reds, with two wins and two defeats from their four games so far. While the majority of the squad was back for the most recent outing against Monaco, Liverpool fell to a second consecutive loss in similar circumstances to the defeat to Leeds in Chicago.
Iraola admitted after last weekend’s game that his side still had “work to do” after feeling that his players couldn’t maintain their levels after easing into a 2-0 lead.
The Spaniard will be hoping his team will fare better in its final warm-ups against Como, but he has played down any lingering fears heading into the new season.
Alexander Isak next to Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola during the pre-season friendly against Monaco at Anfield on August 9 2026
Andoni Iraola admitted his side still had work to do after the defeat to Monaco(Image: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
“This will be a very good, and very important, test for us as we finalize our preparations for the new Premier League season,” Iraola said in his programme notes ahead of tomorrow’s friendlies.
“Despite the result, last weekend’s game against Monaco brought plenty of positives and plenty of learnings for myself and my staff.
“The first half, and the first 30 minutes in particular, was very pleasing. It was good to see Alexander Isak getting on the scoresheet and looking sharp, and I saw a lot of good things both with and without the ball.
“The problem we had, as we had against Leeds in Chicago, was that we were not able to sustain our levels and that is something that can only happen with time, and with a lot of hard work on the training ground.
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“I have spoken many times about the type of team I want to see on the pitch, about the intensity, the intent and the energy we are looking for, and while it is clear that there is still a lot of improvement to come, I believe that we are moving in the right direction and I expect that to continue in the coming days and weeks as the season gets under way.”
He added: “There is no doubt in my mind about the quality and the potential we have within our squad, and now it is up to us to show that on a consistent basis going forward.”
Last weekend saw Iraola take charge of Liverpool for the first time at Anfield, having taken over as Arne Slot’s successor earlier in the summer.
“From a personal perspective, I would like to thank you all for the wonderful reception I received last weekend,” Iraola said. “It meant a lot, and hopefully we can give you lots to enjoy and to shout about, both on Sunday and beyond.”