Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola will have a lot on his mind as he reflects on the team's 4-2 loss to Leeds in the United States. The first-half display was arguably the best since Iraola took charge, but the second half was a disaster, with Liverpool conceding four times without reply inside 25 minutes.
Iraola's Midseason Conundrum: Can He Turn the Tide?
Iraola made a raft of changes at the break, but that is no excuse for the way Liverpool capitulated against Daniel Farke's side. Their lack of squad depth and physicality was alarmingly exposed, and Iraola will be concerned with the ease with which Leeds scored, albeit against an inexperienced backline.
Dominik Szoboszlai spoke about the team's set-piece deficiencies, saying, "We conceded two goals from set-pieces. We have to fix that and make sure we deal with them better." The intensity Iraola demands on the training pitch was evident in the first half but seemed non-existent after the break. Senior figures like Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa did not cover themselves in glory.
Planning for the Season Ahead
Iraola will meet with several first-team players, including Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, and Alisson Becker, over the coming days at the AXA Training Centre. The only first-team player he will have yet to meet will be Alexis Mac Allister, who has been granted extra time off following Argentina's run to the World Cup final. Victor Munoz, the new signing, will return earlier to aid his integration into the squad.
Iraola wanted to see the squad at his disposal before making decisions, and what he saw in this defeat will play into those decisions. The inclusion of Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, who cost a combined £225m last summer, gave the teamsheet the star quality befitting the host city of Chicago.
A Mixed Bag for Iraola
Even before the second-half troubles, Iraola would have known that there was no time to waste as he plans for the start of the season. Isak looked sharp in Liverpool's best half of the tour, and Wirtz scored as they suffocated Leeds with their press and moved the ball around with confidence. Luke Chambers, who impressed Iraola in New York, hammered home from inside the box in the seventh minute, and 19-year-old Trey Nyoni continued his excellent pre-season with another solid showing.
Nyoni has been linked with a loan move this summer, but on these showings, the midfielder will surely stay and get more minutes for Liverpool this season. Iraola has spoken glowingly about his attributes, not least his confidence on the ball and his desire to go direct.
Iraola will have a lot to think about as he reflects on the team's performance, and what he saw in this defeat will play into his decisions for the start of the season. Liverpool will be hoping that they can turn things around and make a strong start to the season, but it will be a tough task ahead.
Source: Joy Online
