Andoni Iraola’s first game as Liverpool head coach at Anfield ended in a 3-2 loss to Monaco from France’s Ligue 1.
He selected a strong starting XI for Sunday’s friendly and his side raced into a two-goal lead before the half-hour mark, as Alexander Isak opened the scoring on 16 minutes before Florian Wirtz tapped in a second.
Monaco halved the deficit just before half-time when Aleksandr Golovin converted a penalty, which he won when he was fouled by Virgil van Dijk. Mika Biereth equalised 11 minutes after the restart, scoring at the second attempt after being denied by an excellent Giorgi Mamardashvili save.
The intensity of the game dropped in the second half as both teams made a string of substitutions but Liverpool’s set-piece problems continued as they conceded an 88th-minute winner when Paris Brunner headed in from a corner.
Andrew Jones analyses the main talking points.
Are we starting to see the Isak-Wirtz link Liverpool hoped for?
Florian Wirtz scores Liverpool’s second goal against Monaco (Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
If Liverpool can see this version of Isak and Wirtz consistently during the upcoming season, there is plenty to be excited about.
Last summer, they invested more than £225million ($303m) combined in these two players, who they thought would lead their attack into a new era. For differing reasons, neither had the debut season that anybody at Anfield would have hoped.
Under new head coach Iraola, though, it is so far so good.
Their first outing of pre-season, in the opening 45 minutes against Leeds United in Chicago last Sunday, was a real positive as they contributed to Liverpool’s best half of football on the three-game tour of the United States, and as a partnership it looked like a connection had already been established as a No 9 and a No 10.
Their performances against Monaco today were another positive step forward, and both looked like the players Liverpool thought they were buying last summer. They were sharp and nearly combined in the seventh minute when they traded passes in the Monaco area before Wirtz’s shot was saved by Lukas Hradecky.
They continued to cause problems throughout the first half, with Wirtz finding plenty of space in between the lines and Isak constantly posing a threat in behind, as well as being involved in build-up play.
Isak gave Liverpool the lead when he received a pass from Ryan Gravenberch, who had played a neat one-two with Dominik Szoboszlai, and finished calmly into the bottom left corner from the middle of the area. Wirtz’s bright play was rewarded when he scored from close range after a goalmouth scramble to make it 2-0, with Isak picking up the assist.
Their threat continued in the second half, before they were both substituted just before the hour.
How did Munoz do on his first Anfield appearance?
Liverpool supporters have had to wait for some time to see summer signing Victor Munoz in action, but they got their first glimpse of him against Monaco.
He received a loud reception when he was brought on, alongside a number of other changes, just before the hour mark.
The 23-year-old joined up with the squad at the start of the week after cutting his post-World Cup holiday short, having been part of the Spain squad that won the tournament.
Munoz is a versatile forward and he came on with fellow winger Rio Ngumoha, but it was the former who played on the left wing, while Ngumoha operated from the right.
The second half lacked the intensity of the first 45 minutes, but there were a couple of promising moments from the Spain international, most notably when he used his speed to skip past the full-back before delivering a low cross that was cleared.
On the opposite flank, it was another opportunity for Ngumoha to gain more experience playing on the right. There was a noticeable lift in volume every time he got the ball and he looked more assured in that role than he had when he played there against Wrexham in Liverpool’s second friendly.
The club are still looking to add to their attack before the end of the window, as their pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola continues, but with an encouraging performance from Gakpo too, Iraola can begin to feel like he has a variety of options at his disposal. Further signings would only strengthen that.
What next for Koumas and Ndukwe?
Andoni Iraola’s first game in charge of Liverpool at Anfield ended in defeat (Darren Staples/AFP via Getty Images)
Iraola selected a strong line-up for his first game at Anfield, but he included two youngsters in his starting XI – Lewis Koumas and Ifeanyi Ndukwe.
Both players made a strong impression during Liverpool’s tour of the United States and they continued that form into the game against Monaco, with both looking right at home.
Koumas started on the right wing, a position Liverpool are still yet to address after the departure of Mohamed Salah, and he took his opportunity as he was constantly involved in Liverpool’s attacking play. It felt like a vote of confidence from Iraola, who had other options he could have selected, like Federico Chiesa or fellow youngster Kieran Morrison.
He provided the deep cross to Cody Gakpo that led to the scramble that resulted in Liverpool’s second goal and the only thing missing from his performance was a goal, although he consistently got into promising scoring positions.
Koumas, who moved up to the No 9 position in the second half, is expected to remain at Liverpool for the next few weeks before a decision is made on his future. There will be plenty of interest in him, and it is also likely to depend on attacking incomings at Anfield.
The only negative so far about centre-back Ndukwe’s pre-season is that work permit issues will prevent him from playing for Liverpool this season. The 18-year-old looks ready for senior football.
Partnering Virgil van Dijk, his size was striking, and he put in another calm, composed display. He embraced the physical challenge posed by Biereth and was front-footed and confident. That was shown in the opening 10 minutes, when he dragged the ball back, turning away from two Monaco players.
Ronald Araujo’s imminent arrival from Barcelona on loan offers a short-term solution for Liverpool’s centre-back issues but Ndukwe, along with Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni — who both missed the game due to injury — suggest Liverpool’s long-term health in that position is very strong.
