Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola will have a lot to think about as he reflects on the 4-2 loss to Leeds that ended the team's United States tour. The defeat was a stark contrast to the first half, where Liverpool played their best football since Iraola took charge.
Liverpool's first-half display was arguably the best since Iraola took charge of the team, but the second half was a different story altogether. The team conceded four times without reply inside 25 minutes, exposing their lack of squad depth and physicality. Iraola made a raft of changes at the break, but that was no excuse for the way they capitulated against Daniel Farke's side.
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. "I particularly hate this month of August because you start the competitions and you still don't know if some of the players are going to leave and who's going to come – there is a lot of uncertainty," Iraola said earlier in the week.
The defeat will likely play into Iraola's decisions on the squad, with no incomings over the course of a fortnight in America. The manager wanted to see the squad at his disposal before making decisions, and what he saw in this defeat will be taken into account. "I think we learn a lot of things. Obviously it's not the result you want but I think (it was) probably the most useful friendly we played – in a positive way in the first half and in a negative way in the second half," Iraola said.
Wirtz and Isak impress on their return
Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz made their return for Liverpool against Leeds, and they looked sharp in the first half. Isak was a key player in Liverpool's best half of the tour, while Wirtz scored a goal and moved the ball around with confidence. Their early breakthrough came from an unlikely source, with Luke Chambers hammering home from inside the box in the seventh minute.
Trey Nyoni continued his excellent pre-season with another solid showing, and his confidence on the ball and desire to go direct will surely stay with the team this season. He 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 will meet Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, Alisson Becker, and new signing Victor Munoz over the coming days at the AXA Training Centre. By then, 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. Munoz, who did not play a minute in Spain's successful World Cup campaign, will return earlier to aid his integration into the squad.
Iraola will have to think about the team's set-piece deficiencies, which were evident in the second half. The team's lack of squad depth and physicality will also be a concern, and it remains to be seen how they will address these issues before the start of the season. The team will face a busy schedule, with several games coming up in the next few weeks.
Source: Yahoo Sports
