Image Credits: Imago Images
Andoni Iraola can be pleased with his start as Liverpool head coach, although tougher tests await after the international break.
The Spaniard remains unbeaten since replacing Arne Slot, with Sunday’s 1-0 win over former club Bournemouth giving him his fourth victory in all competitions and second in the Premier League.
Iraola will now see most of his squad depart for international duty, with Liverpool not returning to action until October 11.
Their schedule will then become significantly more demanding. Liverpool will host Manchester City at Anfield before travelling to Austria to face LASK in the Champions League.
They will then visit Brentford before hosting Villarreal and Brighton. According to the Daily Mail, Iraola will use the international break to consider how to get the best out of Florian Wirtz and resolve his midfield selection dilemma.
With Liverpool playing midweek games, Iraola has had limited time on the training pitch to address his midfield issues.
Alexis Mac Allister is enjoying his best form in more than a year, but the problem remains. Iraola does not view it as a personnel issue and wants to use one No. 6, one No. 8 and one No. 10. However, the three midfielders have often drifted into the No. 10 role, creating congestion.
The Liverpool boss will also continue working with the players who remain at the AXA Training Centre, although he is expected to give them a short break first.
Wataru Endo, Joe Gomez and James McConnell are among those expected to stay behind, with sessions likely to be supplemented by players from the academy. Iraola outlined his plans for the extended break after Sunday’s victory over Bournemouth.
“We will still train,” Iraola confirmed. “But it’s true we are training with four, five players because most of the team is playing with their national teams.
“The players will now have some days off and then we will keep working with the ones that will stay. We’ll prepare well for when the others come and you have no more than three days probably to prepare the City game. And not just for that game, but the run of games that we have. That’s going to be demanding.”
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