Liverpool suffered their second consecutive pre-season collapse on Sunday at Anfield, squandering a two-goal advantage before falling 3-2 to Monaco, a result that has drawn frank assessment from new head coach Andoni Iraola about his squad's current physical condition.
The defeat echoed an earlier setback against Leeds on 2 August in Chicago, when Liverpool similarly surrendered a two-goal cushion before losing 4-2. Against Monaco, the Reds again looked impressive in the opening period, dictating play for roughly 30 minutes, before fading badly as the French side scored three goals without reply across a 44-minute stretch. In the Leeds match, the collapse was even more pronounced, with the opposition netting four times in just 25 minutes after Liverpool had led.
Speaking after the Monaco loss, Iraola did not shy away from identifying the underlying issue. He said his team could not maintain their intended level of performance for a full 90 minutes, noting they had shown a strong start but lacked the endurance to carry it through. "They don't have much more, in terms of the levels required to play like this," Iraola said, referring to the intensity his tactical approach demands.
The Spanish coach had struck a similarly measured tone after the Leeds defeat, describing that match as instructive despite the result. He said the game was useful because he "learned a lot of things" about his players' current capabilities.
Part of the challenge stems from squad rotation during these matches — Iraola made nine substitutions against Leeds and 11 against Monaco — which has coincided with a marked drop in performance level as fresh faces entered the fray. Several first-team players are also still building toward peak physical condition following time off after the World Cup, while injuries have sidelined the likes of Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni for extended periods.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk acknowledged the club may look to bolster the squad before the season begins. "Let's see what the next couple of weeks are going to bring. Any quality we can add to the team will definitely be welcome so let's see," he said. Uruguayan defender Ronald Araujo, capable of playing centre-back or right-back, is reportedly closing in on a season-long loan move from Barcelona that could provide such reinforcement.
Despite the concerning pattern in these warm-up fixtures, there have been genuine glimpses of the high-tempo, aggressive style Iraola wants to implement, with Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak both looking sharp during the productive early stretches of both games. The manager has been pushing his squad hard in training, reportedly using phrases like "quicker, quicker" during sessions, with one player telling the BBC he felt unwell after the early workouts. Squads who lose in training drills have been made to sprint the length of the pitch as punishment.
Winger Milos Kerkez, speaking during the club's tour, explained that Iraola wants his players to "play one-on-one all over the pitch, to press high and to always be on the front foot" — a style reminiscent of his time at Bournemouth, where his teams ranked first in the Premier League for direct attacks and third for high turnovers last season.
History suggests patience may be required. It took Iraola ten matches to register his first win as Bournemouth boss in the 2023-24 campaign, though the long-term results there justified his methods. Iraola has already cautioned that transformation won't happen instantly. "I would like to say, no, on the first day, we are going to be perfect, everyone will be in place, but probably it is not going to be like this," he said. "We will have to do this as quickly as possible."
With roughly two weeks remaining before Liverpool's Premier League opener, the coming days of preparation could prove crucial in determining whether the club can sharpen both fitness and execution in time for the new campaign.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.