Andoni Iraola has made clear that stamina management, not marathon shifts, will define his approach to attacking players as he prepares for what he describes as an emotional first home match in charge at Anfield.
The Basque coach, who takes charge of his first Premier League fixture at home against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, explained that he does not expect his forwards and wingers to play a full 90 minutes. Instead, he wants them to give everything they have until they are spent, at which point he will turn to alternatives from the bench.
"For me, wingers, forwards, I always tell them that they don't need to give us 90 minutes," Iraola said. "I tell them it is good news when they are exhausted because then we have taken everything from you and someone else will come in."
He added that the situation differs for defenders, who he believes are generally better equipped to complete full matches. "We have the situation now with Jérémy [Jacquet], who hasn't had a proper pre-season but he is close to getting there. But normally defenders can last 90 minutes easier. For offensive players, it's not mandatory that you play the whole game. Once you are done, we can change you. I think it's the best way, and they all have to understand it like this."
The comments come amid a period of squad rebuilding up front. Iraola is hopeful of strengthening his attacking options before Tuesday's transfer deadline, with Bradley Barcola potentially arriving from Paris Saint-Germain along with another winger. So far, only Victor Muñoz has been added to bolster the forward line, a £34.5m signing from Osasuna that Iraola himself recommended to the club.
Muñoz, 23, missed much of pre-season while recovering from Spain's triumphant World Cup campaign, but Iraola believes he is now ready to feature from the start. The winger made an impression as a substitute during the club's recent trip to Newcastle.
"I had never coached against Victor because he made his debut in La Liga when I was already here in the Premier League but I had very good references of him," Iraola explained. "The club put his name [to me] and we started to analyse his game. We all liked what he gives us. It's early for him in terms of him not being able to speak the language, and he needs to get a better relationship with teammates, but I like his attitude. He works very hard. He is ready to play right side, left side, and he impacted the game the other day. The subs all played very well."
Beyond the tactical and transfer talk, Saturday's match carries personal significance for Iraola as he takes charge of his first competitive fixture at Anfield. His wife and two young children plan to attend, a departure from usual routine, while the club's new vice-chair, Amit Bhatia, is also expected to be present.
"My wife never normally comes to my games," Iraola said. "But now she is starting to go because my kids want to go. The kids are starting to understand football a little bit and they will sometimes go. Not all the time, but they will be there for the first game because the timing is very good."
He acknowledged the weight of the occasion but insisted he would try not to dwell on it before kickoff. "I think there will be an emotional part that is going to be probably only for me. I know it's my first game but I will not be trying to think too much about those things. Probably when the game finishes, and if it finishes well, then I will be more thinking of myself."
Based on reporting from Guardian Football.