Iraola warns Liverpool 'cannot sustain level' after Monaco collapse

Andoni Iraola admitted on 9 Aug 2026 that Liverpool "cannot sustain their level" after the Reds surrendered a two‑goal lead in a pre‑season defeat to Monaco at Anfield, his first match in charge. The assessment came as the club struggled to maintain intensity throughout the 90 minutes.

In the first half, Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz found the net, giving Liverpool a comfortable advantage and setting the tone for what appeared to be a dominant display.

The second half saw Monaco launch a spirited comeback, with Paris Brunner sealing the rally in a five‑goal thriller that left the Reds reeling and highlighted the difficulty of holding onto leads.

Iraola’s candid post‑match assessment

Iraola told LFC TV, "We played a good first half, especially a good 30 minutes. Right now we probably don't have much more, in terms of the levels required to play like this. They deserved to turn around the game. We won the first two pre‑season games, but the last two we cannot sustain the level we want for all of the game. As soon as we made some changes, players start to get tired and we cannot sustain that level. So, we have work to do."

The Reds’ adaptation woes were evident earlier in the United States, where a two‑goal lead against Leeds evaporated in a 4‑2 loss, underscoring the pattern of late‑stage collapses.

Iraola inherits Slot’s legacy

Iraola was hired as Arne Slot's replacement after the former manager’s dismissal, and the ex‑Bournemouth boss was renowned for his high‑energy system whilst in charge of the Cherries.

Liverpool finished fifth last term, a steep drop from winning the league twelve months earlier, a decline that ultimately cost Slot his job. The club’s pre‑season record now shows two opening victories followed by two matches where the level could not be sustained.

The Reds begin their campaign away at Newcastle before fixtures against Nottingham Forest, Ipswich and Fulham, with a return to Bournemouth scheduled for September.

Isak reflected on the new environment, saying, "I feel like the spirit is good in the group and we're all working hard to make things work. We're going to make sure that we're ready for the start."

The comments were published by Samuel Meade, Sports Brand Writer22:32 on 9 Aug 2026. ImagesAndoni accompany the report, and Liverpool's flaws were highlighted throughout the analysis.