Andoni Iraola has admitted that Liverpool are currently only capable of maintaining the level of intensity he wants for around 30 minutes.
That admission provides an interesting explanation for Liverpool’s 3-2 defeat to Monaco in Iraola’s first match at Anfield.
The Reds raced into a two-goal lead and looked extremely impressive during the opening stages, but Monaco gradually fought their way back into the game before scoring a late winner.
For some supporters, the collapse may have raised concerns about Iraola’s tactics.
But the Liverpool manager believes the problem is much simpler.
His players aren’t fit enough yet to maintain that intensity for an entire match.
The intensity is demanding
Iraola wants Liverpool to play with aggression.
He wants them to press high, win the ball back quickly and attack with speed when possession is recovered.
It is an incredibly demanding style of football.
When Liverpool have the energy to execute it, the results can be spectacular.
Against Monaco, we saw exactly that.
Liverpool were able to overwhelm their opponents early on, with Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz putting them two goals ahead.
The press was aggressive.
The attacking football was exciting.
The tempo was high.
But eventually the intensity dropped.
And that’s when Monaco began to find opportunities.
Fitness will take time
Iraola’s comments are therefore particularly important.
The manager isn’t expecting his players to immediately be capable of playing his preferred style for 90 minutes.
They need time to build the physical conditioning required.
That is especially understandable given that Liverpool have only just returned from their summer break and several players are still working their way towards full match fitness.
There is also the fact that Iraola is introducing a new tactical system.
The players aren’t simply getting fitter.
They’re learning completely different demands.
They have to understand when to press, where to press, when to drop and how to react immediately when possession is lost.
That takes time.
The Monaco game actually showed the potential
The encouraging thing is that Liverpool demonstrated what Iraola’s football can look like when they have the energy to execute it.
The opening half-hour was arguably the most exciting part of the match.
Liverpool were aggressive and dangerous.
Wirtz was finding space.
Isak was causing problems.
Szoboszlai and Gravenberch were working hard in midfield.
The full-backs were providing attacking width.
It was exactly the sort of football supporters will want to see once the team is fully prepared.
The problem came when Liverpool could no longer sustain it.
This could explain the second-half drop-off
Liverpool’s collapse against Monaco therefore shouldn’t necessarily be viewed as proof that Iraola’s system doesn’t work.
It could simply be evidence that the team isn’t ready to play it for 90 minutes yet.
That is actually quite encouraging.
If Liverpool can currently produce that level of intensity for around 30 minutes, imagine what they could look like when the players are fully conditioned to Iraola’s demands.
The objective has to be to gradually extend that period.
Thirty minutes becomes 45.
Then 60.
Then 75.
Eventually, Liverpool should be able to maintain the intensity deep into matches.
But Iraola still has work to do
The manager cannot simply blame fitness.
Liverpool will still need to become better at managing games when the intensity inevitably drops.
There will be matches during the season when Liverpool cannot press at maximum intensity for 90 minutes.
They need to know how to control possession, slow the game down and protect a lead when necessary.
That balance will be crucial.
Iraola can demand incredible intensity from his players, but he also needs them to understand when to conserve energy.
The exciting part
For me, Iraola’s comments actually make Liverpool’s start to the season even more intriguing.
We have already seen glimpses of what this team can become.
The press is aggressive.
The attack is exciting.
Wirtz and Isak already look dangerous.
And now we know that the players are still building towards the physical level required to execute it consistently.
Liverpool may therefore look very different a few weeks into the season compared with what we saw against Monaco.
The Monaco defeat was disappointing.
But perhaps the biggest lesson isn’t that Iraola’s football doesn’t work.
It is that Liverpool aren’t fit enough to play it for long enough yet.
And that is something the new Liverpool boss can work on.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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