Премьер лигийн хүрээнд Фулхэмтэй хийсэн тоглолтод Ливерпүүл гоолгүй тэнцэн, талбайдаа сул тоглолт үзүүлснээр Андони Ираолагийн багийн тоглолтын зохион байгуулалт анхаарал татаж эхэллээ.
Бямба гарагт болсон уг тоглолтод Ливерпүүлийн тоглолт тун хангалтгүй байж, өрсөлдөгчөөсөө илүүрхэж чадсангүй. Дасгалжуулагч Андони Ираола тоглолтын дараах хэвлэлийн бага хурал дээр багийнханд ядаргаа нөлөөлж, тоглолтын эрч хүч дутсаныг хүлээн зөвшөөрсөн бөгөөд энэ нь түүний удирдлагад ирснээс хойш тохиолдсон хамгийн сул тоглолт болсныг онцоллоо. Ялангуяа хамгаалалтын зүүн жигүүрт тоглосон Костас Цимикас тун тааруу гүйцэтгэлтэй байсны улмаас эхний хагасын дараа сэлгээнд суусан бол Райан Гравенберх болон Доминик Собослаи нарын хагас хамгаалалтын хослол тоглолтын хэмнэлийг барьж чадаагүй нь багийн гол асуудал болоод байна.
Флориан Вирц дундын шугамд хангалтгүй тоглолт үзүүлж, олон бөмбөг алдсан нь багийн хамгаалалтад ачаалал нэмэгдэхэд хүргэв. Сэлгээнээс орж ирсэн Алексис Мак Аллистер илүү найдвартай тоглолтыг үзүүлсэн ч баг бүхэлдээ гоол оруулах боломж дутмаг байлаа. Ливерпүүл ирэх мягмар гарагт Карабао цомын хүрээнд Тоттенхэм Хотспуртай тоглох бөгөөд энэ үеэр залуу тоглогч Трей Ньонид гарааны эрх олгох шаардлага тулгарч байна.
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If the manner of the wins over Ipswich Town and Atletico Madrid pointed to Andoni Iraola making his mark at Liverpool, Saturday’s dismal stalemate with Fulham laid bare the issues he is grappling with.
This was an error-strewn performance lacking in redeeming qualities. Liverpool were flat, careless and disjointed. They were outplayed for significant periods by a team who had lost all three of their Premier League matches before their visit to Anfield.
Iraola felt that fatigue had heavily contributed to standards slipping alarmingly after the energy expended to beat Diego Simeone’s Atletico in midweek. Intensity was conspicuous by its absence.
“There was a lack of freshness definitely — we cannot hide it,” Iraola told reporters post-match.
“It’s the worst turnaround in terms of 60-something hours between the games, but this is going to happen more times. We have to adapt.
“These kind of games you need to win sometimes with a set-play, a shot from the edge (of the box), a moment of brilliance from an offensive player — but we didn’t have that. It’s the first game since I’ve been here that we’ve had problems creating chances.”
Alexander Isak, who squandered a glorious late chance when he glanced a header wide from Dominik Szoboszlai’s corner, looked jaded. The same goes for Bradley Barcola, who understandably needs time to get up to speed following his big-money move from Paris Saint-Germain.
But Liverpool’s most concerning weaknesses on show against Fulham had nothing to do with weary limbs. Take the left-back spot, where the recalled Kostas Tsimikas was so poor that he was taken off at the break. In truth, the Greek defender was lucky to have stayed on that long, having won three of his eight duels (38 per cent) and completed just 20 of his 31 passes (65 per cent).
Andoni Iraola sums up what most of Anfield felt during the 0-0 draw (Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images)
It was the cheap option to bring back Tsimikas after a season on loan at Roma to provide cover for Milos Kerkez following Andy Robertson’s exit, rather than dipping into the transfer market. It could end up costing Liverpool.
Kerkez, who came on for the second half against Fulham, has started the campaign badly but the erratic Hungarian does not have any serious competition for his place. Academy graduate Luke Chambers, who the club decided not to loan out after impressing Iraola in pre-season, has to be a better option than Tsimikas.
By far the biggest headache for Iraola surrounds the make-up of his midfield. It is a problem of personnel and balance.
Liverpool did not strengthen that area this summer because they believed the new head coach would get more out of the talent at his disposal.
Despite the clamour among a section of the fanbase to buy a specialist No 6, Iraola did not feel that his system required one. Teenager Trey Nyoni was backed to step up following the sale of Curtis Jones to Serie A champions Inter.
If Alexis Mac Allister had left after being informed that he was not going to get a new contract, then Monaco’s Lamine Camara would have been the favoured replacement.
Having Florian Wirtz as part of his favoured three-man midfield is a gamble. When the German is an influential creative force, it pays off. But when he is as ineffective in the No 10 role as he was against Fulham, then his presence leaves so much ground for those behind him to cover.
Wirtz completed 44 of his 53 passes (83 per cent) and won one of his four duels (25 per cent). One delightful flick to release Barcola midway through the second half came to nothing because the France winger wastefully failed to pick out the waiting Isak. But on other occasions, Wirtz was his worst enemy as his distribution let him down and he felt the wrath of Anfield.
In an attempt to inject freshness, Iraola handed Ryan Gravenberch his first start since the opening weekend of the season but the Dutchman, who was given a new six-year contract in March, has not shaken off the malaise which dogged him towards the end of the Arne Slot era.
Gravenberch looked devoid of confidence as he shook his head disconsolately after conceding possession cheaply. He completed 24 of his 31 passes (77 per cent) and won four of his seven duels (57 per cent).
The resurgent Mac Allister, who replaced Gravenberch for the final half hour, was much more assured. Liverpool’s match-winner against Atletico in midweek completed 18 of his 20 passes (90 per cent) and won the only duel he contested.
Ryan Gravenberch is struggling this season (Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images)
The Szoboszlai-Gravenberch axis failed to provide any control. It was far too easy for Fulham to play through them. Like with Gravenberch, Liverpool made a massive financial commitment when they gave Szoboszlai a new five-year contract in July.
It was reward for the Hungary captain being the standout performer throughout last season. On Saturday, he created more chances (four) than anyone else and his ability on the ball is undeniable. But Anfield bristled with discontent over some of the battles he lost. Szoboszlai ended up winning just one of his 10 duels and that is not acceptable.
Asked about Liverpool’s problems in midfield and the search for the right balance, Iraola said: “Especially first half, we were arriving late to the press. It was clear.
“We improved this part a lot in the second half. With better structures, we better controlled the game in the second half. Even without scoring a goal, I was feeling more comfortable. Even if we haven’t been incredible in that aspect, struggling sometimes, we haven’t conceded clear chances. The only one we conceded is the one when we messed up a goal kick.”
That chance, which resulted in Jeremy Jacquet clearing off the line to deny Gonzalo Garcia, came from Alisson playing a senseless pass to the under-pressure Gravenberch. It summed up Liverpool’s collectivesloppiness.
Nyoni, who was an unused substitute, has to be given a start against Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night at Anfield.
Iraola’s engine room is malfunctioning.
