Andoni Iraola oversaw his first home match in charge of Liverpool on Sunday, but the occasion ended in a 3-2 defeat to Monaco after his side surrendered a lead, offering an early glimpse of both promise and unfinished business at Anfield.
The result carried faint echoes of the final months of Arne Slot's tenure, with Liverpool again undone by a set-piece goal despite fielding a talented attacking group. Iraola, animated and vocal from the touchline throughout, will hope such parallels fade once competitive fixtures begin.
Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz both found the net, a rare occurrence for the pair after they combined for goals just once during Slot's time in charge. Isak's effort, though only a pre-season strike that will not count officially, came from a Ryan Gravenberch assist. Wirtz, deployed by Iraola in a fixed No 10 role rather than the rotating wide-and-central positions he occupied last season, forced the ball home after Cody Gakpo's header was blocked.
Despite the goals, defensive frailties were evident. Virgil van Dijk, playing his first match since the World Cup, gave away a penalty by fouling Aleksandr Golovin, who converted it himself. Later, Wataru Endo and Jeremie Frimpong were both implicated in the buildup to Mika Biereth's equaliser, with Endo shifting to centre-back for the second half.
The game underlined why Liverpool have prioritised defensive reinforcements this summer. Ronald Araujo is currently undergoing a medical ahead of a surprise loan move from Barcelona, a deal expected to add experience to a backline in transition. Young centre-backs Giovanni Leoni and Jeremy Jacquet, signed for a combined fee close to £100m, have yet to feature in pre-season, while Joe Gomez is already sidelined through injury. Araujo, at 27, is seen as a bridge between the 35-year-old Van Dijk and the emerging pairing of the 19-year-old Leoni and 21-year-old Jacquet.
Liverpool's transfer activity has otherwise stalled since the arrival of Victor Munoz in June, with the club still searching for a long-term successor to Mohamed Salah on the right flank. Lewis Koumas filled in against Monaco but appears more likely to depart on a fourth consecutive loan than establish himself in the first team. Yan Diomande, one target for that position, has already signed elsewhere, while a move for Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola remains stalled over valuation, with the French champions reportedly seeking a fee well above £100m.
At left-back, Liverpool appear settled following Andy Robertson's departure, with Kostas Tsimikas making his return to Anfield in that role. Milos Kerkez, another summer arrival, did not start but is expected to feature more prominently as pre-season progresses.
Iraola used all 11 permitted substitutions, offering insight into his squad planning. Rio Ngumoha finished the match on the right, a position he may be asked to occupy more regularly in higher-stakes fixtures. Harvey Elliott, who spent last season on a difficult loan at Aston Villa, received the biggest cheer of the day upon his introduction, coming on as the third player used in the No 10 role behind Wirtz and Dominik Szoboszlai. His appearance, however, does not necessarily point to a lasting role back at the club.
Elsewhere, teenage prospects Ifeanyi Ndukwe and Mor Talla Ndiaye impressed during the first half, though Ndukwe's lack of a work permit means he cannot yet play in competitive matches, potentially pointing toward a temporary move abroad.
With the transfer window still open and question marks remaining over the width of Iraola's attacking options and the depth of his central defence, Liverpool's business this summer looks far from complete.
Based on reporting from The Independent (football).