There is plenty to be excited about at Liverpool right now.
Alexander Isak is already showing why the club invested so heavily in him. Florian Wirtz looks like a player capable of becoming the creative heartbeat of the team, while the arrival of Ronald Araújo gives Andoni Iraola another important option at the back.
But there is one problem that simply cannot be ignored.
Liverpool are still struggling to control games once their intensity drops.
And with just one week until the Premier League season begins, Iraola doesn’t have much time to find the solution.
Liverpool’s final pre-season test comes against Como on Sunday, before the Reds travel to Newcastle United for their Premier League opener on August 23.
The Monaco defeat exposed the problem
Liverpool’s 3-2 defeat to Monaco was another example of what has been concerning throughout pre-season.
The Reds raced into a 2-0 lead through Isak and Wirtz and looked completely in control.
But once the intensity dropped, Monaco found a way back into the game.
Liverpool conceded a penalty before half-time, allowed Monaco to equalise in the second half and then conceded a late winner.
It was particularly frustrating because Liverpool had already thrown away a two-goal advantage against Leeds.
That cannot become a habit.
Iraola himself has admitted that his team currently cannot sustain the intensity he wants for 90 minutes. He believes fitness is still developing, but the manager also knows there is much more to fix than simply getting players fitter.
The midfield has to protect the defence
This is where I think Liverpool’s biggest tactical question lies.
Iraola wants his team to press aggressively and play on the front foot.
That’s exciting.
But when the press is beaten, there needs to be protection behind it.
Against Monaco, Liverpool could still look vulnerable when opponents broke through the first wave of pressure.
That puts enormous responsibility on the midfield.
Can Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai provide the balance Iraola needs?
Can they protect the centre-backs while also giving Liverpool the energy to press?
And where does Alexis Mac Allister fit into the equation now that he’s back?
These are questions Iraola needs to answer quickly.
The defence still worries me
The attacking football is already looking exciting.
The defence is a different story.
Liverpool conceded two goals against Monaco after being two goals ahead, while similar problems appeared during the defeat to Leeds.
The high line can be incredibly effective when Liverpool press properly.
But if the midfield gets stretched and the press isn’t coordinated, there is space for opponents to attack.
That’s where Araújo could be hugely important.
The Barcelona loanee gives Iraola another experienced defender who can play centrally or on the right.
His arrival could hardly have come at a better time.
Como is now a really important test
Sunday’s double-header against Como isn’t just another pair of pre-season friendlies.
It is Liverpool’s final opportunity to test themselves before the real thing begins.
Iraola has described the games as an important test as Liverpool finalise their preparations.
And I want to see one thing above everything else:
Can Liverpool control a game for 90 minutes?
Not just 30 minutes.
Not just when the press is working.
Not just when Wirtz and Isak are causing chaos.
The full team needs to show that it can maintain its structure when the opposition has possession and when Liverpool aren’t dominating.
The good news: Liverpool’s attack looks frightening
This isn’t an article about doom and gloom.
Far from it.
There are enormous reasons to be optimistic.
Wirtz and Isak already look like they could develop a devastating partnership.
Liverpool’s attack is quicker and more direct.
The press is returning.
Ngumoha continues to look like an exciting young talent.
And if Liverpool can still add another winger such as Barcola, the attacking options could become ridiculous.
The problem is that Liverpool cannot simply outscore everybody.
Eventually, they’ll face teams capable of punishing defensive mistakes.
Iraola has one week
This is the challenge facing the new Liverpool manager.
He doesn’t need to completely transform the team in seven days.
But he does need to find a way of making Liverpool harder to play against.
The attacking identity is beginning to take shape.
Now comes the difficult part.
Balance.
Liverpool need the intensity of Iraola’s football without becoming exposed every time that intensity drops.
They need Gravenberch, Szoboszlai and Mac Allister to protect the defence.
They need their full-backs to know when to attack and when to stay.
They need the centre-backs to defend the space behind them.
And they need the entire team to understand that pressing isn’t just about running.
It’s about doing it together.
Newcastle will provide the answers
And then comes the real test.
Newcastle away.
A difficult Premier League opener at St James’ Park is hardly the ideal place to discover that your defensive structure isn’t ready.
Liverpool have one week to prepare.
One week to improve their fitness.
One week to work on the press.
One week to find the right midfield balance.
One week to make sure that a two-goal lead doesn’t become another two-goal collapse.
Because the exciting part is already there.
Wirtz. Isak. Araújo. Ngumoha.
There is so much to look forward to under Iraola.
But if Liverpool can solve their biggest problem — how to remain compact and defensively secure when the intensity inevitably drops — then this could become a very exciting team indeed.
The attack could win Liverpool games.
But the defence and midfield will determine how far this team can go.
And Iraola has just one week to start finding the answers.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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