Andoni Iraola has admitted that his decision to make a double center-back change in Liverpool's 6-3 Champions League win over LASK was taken with one eye on this weekend's trip to Brentford
Andoni Iraola speaks to the media after Liverpool's 6-3 Champions League success over LASK
Andoni Iraola speaks to the media after Liverpool's 6-3 Champions League success over LASK(Image: Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola has admitted that his decision to swap both of Liverpool's center-backs during the team's commanding 6-3 victory over LASK was made with Saturday's away fixture at Brentford firmly in mind.
Bradley Barcola netted a hat-trick, with Ronald Araujo, Jeremie Frimpong and Lewis Koumas — who marked his first Champions League goal in the second half — also getting on the scoresheet.
Nevertheless, the withdrawal of center-back pairing Araujo and Jeremy Jacquet, replaced by Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez, appeared to trigger a LASK revival as the Austrian side netted three times in just 14 minutes at the Raiffeisen Arena.
Iraola, clearly dissatisfied with his side's defensive performance in the second half, acknowledged that the substitutions were influenced by his thinking ahead to Saturday's trip to the Gtech Community Stadium.
"I think there is a reason why a manager would never change both center-backs together," Iraola said. "But it is difficult, a new pairing to come in straight away, but obviously winning 4-0, I have to start thinking about the next game.
"We play in a few days away at Brentford, so Ronald and Jeremy have played a lot lately with us and with the national team.
Lewis Koumas scored his first Champions League goal on Wednesday
Lewis Koumas scored his first Champions League goal on Wednesday(Image: Getty Images)
"And I think it was to give them a bit of rest, but usually in a game, it is not the right thing to change both center-backs together.
"At the end, it was a different game, and you have to try to analyze not just who can rest but who can help us win the game against LASK today. What players can help us against Brentford?
"After that, we play a very difficult game in the Champions League against Villarreal, so we need more than 11, 12, 13.
"That is why we have some young players who can give us some good performances and get experience.
"These games are not easy for Trey (Nyoni), for Koumas, what they have experienced, we can trust them to play more. So it is good."
Turning his attention to his side's attacking display, Iraola commented: "I think we attacked very well, especially in the first half, in a very compact block.
"They played a back five, and they were not spaces in between, and I think we found the spaces in the pockets, in behind with the three up front.
"The second half was more about exploiting the spaces, but I think offensively it was really a complete performance."