Liverpool’s new manager Andoni Iraola has acknowledged that the team is struggling to adapt to his high-octane style of play. Just 13 days from their opening fixture against Newcastle in the Premier League, Iraola expressed concerns about the squad’s physical readiness to sustain the required intensity for a full match.

After a 3-2 defeat to Monaco, Iraola reflected on the team’s performance, stating,

"We played a really good first-half, but right now, we don’t have much more in terms of the level required to play like this [for 90 minutes]."

He noted that while Liverpool performed well initially, they struggled to maintain that level as the game progressed:

• Monaco outperformed Liverpool in the second half, deserving their victory.
• Despite winning the first two pre-season matches, the last two revealed the team’s inability to sustain intensity.

Iraola pointed out that fatigue set in after substitutions, indicating a need for further training and conditioning:

"The problem right now is they probably don’t have energy for 90 minutes. It will take time – we’ll do more training with them."

While there are positives to take from the pre-season, Iraola emphasized the need to address the negatives as well. With the season approaching, Liverpool faces a challenging start, but Iraola remains optimistic, noting that many clubs are in similar situations as they prepare for the new campaign.