Iraola’s Anfield Debut Ends in Monaco Defeat

Andoni Iraola’s first match at Anfield as Liverpool manager has ended in a 3-2 friendly defeat to Monaco on Sunday, after the Reds again surrendered a two-goal lead.

Liverpool looked in control after Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz put them 2-0 ahead.

However, Monaco fought back through Aleksandr Golovin’s penalty and Mika Biereth to level the score before Paris Brunner headed in a late winner.

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The defeat mirrors Liverpool’s 4-2 loss to Leeds last week in Chicago, when the Reds also surrendered a two-goal advantage.

Iraola made 11 changes in the second half and handed new signing Victor Munoz his first appearance for Liverpool.

The Spaniard admitted his team’s second-half performance was not good enough.

“I think (this was) quite similar to the game we played against Leeds.”

“I think we played really good (in the) first half, especially the first 30 minutes, but right now probably we don’t have much more in terms of the level required to play like this,” Iraola said.

Iraola’s first Anfield match as Liverpool manager ends in Monaco defeat. Credit: Asharq Al-Awsat.

He added that Monaco deserved their comeback after taking control in the second half.

“They were much better in the second half, in the same way we were better in the first half, they were much better in the second half, and they deserved to turn around the game,” Iraola added.

Captain Virgil van Dijk, goalkeeper Alisson Becker and winger Cody Gakpo also made their first appearances for Liverpool since the World Cup.

Iraola said the returning players showed positive signs but were not yet ready to maintain their intensity for a full match.

“I think the ones that it was their first game, or even the ones that it was their second game, they had energy,” he said.

“The problem is right now probably they don’t have the energy for 90 minutes and they start to get tired.”

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The Liverpool boss said the team would need more training before reaching full fitness but insisted there were positives to take from the defeat.

“It will take time with them, we need more training with them. But we can take a lot of positives, but also a lot of negatives from today,” he said.

Liverpool will begin their Premier League campaign away to Newcastle on August 23.

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