Andoni Iraola reacts to Liverpool 2-0 Como 1907: "We are ready for the league"
Liverpool capped off their pre-season campaign with a 2-0 victory over Como 1907, marking an end to Andoni Iraola's first as a Liverpool head coach.
It was Cody Gakpo and debutant Jeremy Jacquet who picked up the two goals in front of the Anfield crowd, a very dominant first half performance. The second 45 minutes was not full of goals but the Reds did manage to keep a second clean sheet of the day against the Italian opposition.
With the Premier League season just a week away now, the next seven days are vital for Andoni Iraola in making sure his team are prepared for the new season. An away trip to St James Park is what awaits Liverpool on Sunday, a very difficult fixture on a normal game week but with it being the league opener it is fair to assume the crowd in Tyneside will be right up for it.
A big part of that is making sure the fitness levels are up to the managers standard, a clear pattern that has been shown in this pre-season is that Iraola wants his team to be able to press with intensity for 90 minutes. The players on the pitch seem to be improving week by week but the pattern of play in the last quarter of games this pre-season does suggest that on the pitch they are still a bit behind where the manager may want them to be:
"I think we are better than we were last week. Still, I hope next week we are better than we were today. It's normal but first halves are still better than second halves. But today a lot of players played 90 minutes, 80 minutes and they finished [with] no cramps, apparently nothing major. So, it's keep building these fitness levels, this also [mentality] even when you are not as fresh [to] keep the focus so you don't make the big mistakes. I think it's an improvement but still – especially second half – we need to be better."
Preparation for the Premier League season is at a critical stage, this week for Liverpool will be all about squad building, fitness and quality.
It is so important to start a league campaign well especially under a new boss where every squad selection and substitution will be criticised if results are not going well.
With all the players joining up with the squad at different times due to the World cup, it is important everyone is at a similar stage when the season rolls round. With new signings and player outgoings still a possibility as well, the manager has to make sure his squad is ready for the upcoming season:
"Even Ipswich but it's a Friday, we have two or three full weeks where we can train. At the end, we need training, we need to train together. Some of the players that have started playing today, we need to build relationships, the players to have this option to solve problems by themselves in the pitch, analyse what we can improve – especially second half today. This needs time. So, I think we can use these two, three weeks – we have full weeks – so we are ready for the league"
A evident change in style has been implemented by Iraola this season, the Reds set up much differently on and off the ball this season. Under Arne Slot Liverpool fans were used to seeing a more controlled and patient build-up in possession and a more relaxed defencive approach.
This season it is much different, in possession Iraola wants intensity and fast breaks on both flanks. He wants to play on the transition and if Liverpool loose the ball then the Spaniard wants the defenders to push up high on the opposition attackers and win the ball on the half-way line.
Such a big change in style can be difficult for a team, it is a change in preparation, training and level of performance. The benefit of pre-season is that the new manager can try his ideas for the squad and see if it could work during the season. We have seen this during his early tenure so far, playing Rio on the right, Koumas down the middle and giving chances to academy players in the senior squad.
"Yes, I think everyone understands. We need every player, every time, every minute, every action – and that's the commitment. I'm very happy with the attitude of the players. They are training really well. I am asking them to do things that are a little bit different – especially without the ball – and I think they are trying to get it. Obviously now still we are not perfect. We have things to improve but I'm very happy with their attitude, their willingness to be on the same page, and we will get there"
Now that pre-season is over the Reds will take on Newcastle on Sunday 16:30 (BST), with Iraola looking to mark his first premier league game with a win. A fixture that will also see former player Alexander Isak return for the first time since his controversial move last summer.
Victor Munoz may also get a cold reception from the home fans, he was moments away from becoming a Newcastle player this summer until the Reds hijacked the deal.
Alongside Munoz Iraola will most likely give out Premier League debuts to Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo.
