Andoni Iraola's Liverpool experienced another setback in their pre-season campaign, throwing away a two-goal lead for the second consecutive friendly, losing 4-2 to Leeds on August 2 and 3-2 to Monaco at Anfield. Despite the defeats, Iraola claimed the matches were beneficial for understanding his squad's capabilities.

Iraola expressed concern about the team's fitness, stating they need to sustain a higher level of performance throughout matches. He noted that while the first 30 minutes against both Leeds and Monaco showcased Liverpool's potential, the team's form deteriorated significantly as substitutions were made.

Key points from the matches include:

• Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak displayed sharpness and pace early on.
• Liverpool conceded four goals in 25 minutes against Leeds and three unanswered goals to Monaco.

Injuries have also plagued the squad, with players like Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike, and Giovanni Leoni sidelined. Meanwhile, Ronald Araujo is nearing a season-long loan from Barcelona.

Captain Virgil van Dijk acknowledged that any quality additions to the team would be beneficial. Iraola emphasized the need for improved general fitness to execute his desired playing style, supported by his assistant Pablo de la Torre, who previously served as Bournemouth's fitness coach.

Training sessions have been intense, with players adapting to a high-pressing, one-on-one style. However, Iraola's previous experience at Bournemouth showed that it took him time to secure a win, raising questions about his ability to quickly implement his tactics at Liverpool.

Despite the challenges, Iraola remains optimistic, acknowledging that while immediate perfection is unrealistic, the team will strive to adapt and improve as swiftly as possible.