Liverpool's pre-season struggles continued as they were beaten 3-2 by Monaco in Andoni Iraola's first game in charge at Anfield. The Reds, who were two goals up at half-time, were unable to maintain their lead, with Aleksandr Golovin's penalty and Mika Biereth's goal levelling the score. Paris Brunner's late winner sealed the victory for Monaco. Despite the loss, Iraola made 11 changes in the second half, giving a debut to new signing Victor Munoz. The Spanish manager acknowledged that his team lacked the energy to sustain their performance for 90 minutes, citing the need for more training. Liverpool's World Cup stars, including Virgil van Dijk and Alisson, returned to the fold, while Eric Dier captained Monaco. The match highlighted Liverpool's pre-season challenges, with a lack of consistency and energy evident. Iraola's approach and the team's performance raise questions about their readiness for the upcoming season. The defeat serves as a stark reminder of the challenges ahead, with Liverpool needing to address their pre-season form and energy levels to compete at the highest level.
