Andoni Iraola’s first game in charge of Liverpool at Anfield ended in defeat as Monaco came from two goals down to beat the Reds 3-2 in an entertaining pre-season friendly.
Liverpool looked excellent for large periods of the first half and raced into a 2-0 lead through Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, giving supporters inside Anfield an exciting glimpse of what the new-look attack could produce.
However, Monaco fought back before half-time and eventually completed the comeback with an 88th-minute winner from Paris Brunner.
The result will obviously be disappointing, but there were plenty of encouraging signs for Iraola to take from the game.
Isak gets off the mark
The biggest talking point before kick-off was the opportunity to see Wirtz and Isak start together.
And it didn’t take long for the new Liverpool striker to make his mark.
Liverpool’s opening goal came after some excellent combination play between Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai around the edge of the Monaco penalty area.
Gravenberch eventually found Isak, who took a touch before producing a composed low finish beyond Lukas Hradecky.
It was exactly the sort of finish Liverpool supporters will want to see from their new No.9.
Clinical.
Calm.
And deadly inside the penalty area.
Wirtz doubles the lead
Liverpool’s second goal was another encouraging moment.
Lewis Koumas initially had an opportunity after meeting Cody Gakpo’s cross, but the Welshman volleyed over.
Koumas then turned provider.
This time he delivered a dangerous ball towards the back post, where Gakpo met it with a downward header.
The resulting scramble looked as though Monaco might survive, but Wirtz was in exactly the right place to poke the ball home from close range.
Two goals from two of Liverpool’s most exciting attacking additions.
It was a first half that left supporters wondering just how dangerous this team could become once Iraola’s ideas are fully implemented.
Monaco fight back
Unfortunately, Liverpool couldn’t maintain that level.
Just before half-time, Virgil van Dijk was adjudged to have fouled Aleksandr Golovin inside the penalty area.
Golovin dusted himself down and converted the resulting penalty to give Monaco hope.
Then, just ten minutes into the second half, the visitors were level.
Mika Biereth’s initial effort was saved by Giorgi Mamardashvili, but the Monaco forward reacted quickest to the rebound and calmly finished.
Suddenly, a game Liverpool had appeared to control had completely changed.
Iraola rings the changes
Iraola made six substitutions on the hour mark, with new signing Victor Munoz among those introduced for his non-competitive Liverpool debut.
The changes disrupted the rhythm of the game somewhat, but Monaco were increasingly dangerous.
Mamardashvili was forced into another excellent save to deny Mamadou Coulibaly, while Oumar Konate fired narrowly wide as the visitors continued to threaten.
Liverpool were now struggling to create the same attacking opportunities they had enjoyed during the first half.
And Monaco eventually found the winner.
With just two minutes remaining, Paris Brunner glanced a header home from a corner to complete the comeback and hand Monaco a 3-2 victory.
Plenty for Iraola to work on
There is no need to panic over a pre-season defeat.
The result is obviously disappointing, particularly after Liverpool had established a two-goal advantage, but these games are about much more than the scoreline.
Iraola will have learned plenty.
The first half demonstrated the attacking potential available to him.
Wirtz and Isak already look like a partnership worth getting excited about.
Gravenberch and Szoboszlai combined well in midfield, while Koumas and Gakpo both made important contributions.
But the second half also highlighted areas that need improvement.
Liverpool became more vulnerable as the game progressed and struggled to regain control once Monaco increased the pressure.
That is something Iraola will undoubtedly want to address.
A promising glimpse of the future
For Liverpool supporters, though, the most encouraging aspect was seeing the new attacking era beginning to take shape at Anfield.
Isak scored.
Wirtz scored.
Munoz made his debut.
Gakpo looked dangerous.
And Iraola got another valuable 90 minutes to assess his squad.
There is still plenty of work to do before Liverpool are ready for competitive football.
But if the first half is anything to go by, there could be plenty of excitement ahead.
Liverpool’s summer friendlies now conclude next weekend with a double-header against Como 1907.
The Monaco defeat will sting, but ultimately it is another important step in Iraola’s preparations.
The foundations are beginning to appear.
And the sight of Wirtz creating and Isak finishing could be one of the most exciting things Liverpool supporters see this season.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
Leave a Reply