Andoni Iraola urged his Liverpool squad to address their defensive issues after they squandered a 2-0 lead against Monaco, ultimately losing the match in a second consecutive pre-season friendly. This marked Iraola's debut in the home dugout, reminiscent of a prior encounter at Anfield where his previous team, Bournemouth, suffered a 4-2 defeat last season.

In the first half, Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz showcased Liverpool's attacking prowess, but a lack of consistency led to a fragmented second half. Iraola acknowledged that fatigue set in after making substitutions, stating, "As soon as we have made some changes they start to get tired, we cannot sustain that level, so we have work to do."

The match followed a mixed pre-season, including wins against Wrexham and Sunderland, but the 4-2 loss to Leeds raised concerns about the team's defensive fragility.

Key points include:

• Ronald Araújo is expected to join on loan from Barcelona, but the deal remains pending.
• Alexis Mac Allister is still away on World Cup duty.
• Jérémy Jacquet and Curtis Jones were sidelined due to fitness issues.

Liverpool's first goal came from Isak in the 16th minute, celebrated by the home crowd, followed by Wirtz doubling the lead. However, a penalty by Aleksandr Golovin before halftime narrowed the score to 2-1.

In the second half, Monaco equalized and later secured a 3-2 victory with an 88th-minute header from Paris Brunner. Despite the loss, Iraola noted the team's attacking fluidity but emphasized the need for improvement. The squad now faces two matches against Como before their competitive debut against Newcastle on August 23.