Iraola Faces Early Season Challenges at Liverpool
Andoni Iraola admits Liverpool are living through what he calls the “worst scenario” of their early season – and he is about to shake things up to deal with it.
Unbeaten, but unconvinced. That’s the story so far under the new head coach. Four Premier League games, three draws, and a flat 0-0 at Anfield against Fulham that sucked the energy out of a fanbase still getting used to life after a summer of upheaval.
Now comes Tottenham in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, and Iraola has decided this is the moment to start testing the depth of his squad.
Mamardashvili to start as Alisson rests
The first big call comes in goal. Alisson Becker remains the undisputed No.1, but he will step aside for this tie as Giorgi Mamardashvili is handed his chance.
“Yes. Alisson is proven, there are little doubts, he is playing very well,” Iraola told reporters, making clear this is rotation, not revolution.
He has long admired Mamardashvili.
“I rate Giorgi very highly, I know him from his years also in Spain. We told him we tried to sign him for Bournemouth before I came here, he is a very good ‘keeper. He is going to start tomorrow.”
The Georgian will walk out at Anfield with the manager’s trust already banked. Now he has to justify it under the lights.
Defensive picture: Gomez back, Bradley still out
Behind the scenes, the medical bulletin is mixed.
Joe Gomez is back with the group and in contention to feature against Spurs.
“Joe is training with the team and is available for tomorrow. It’s a matter of deciding how much he can play, or what the best thing is for him,” Iraola explained.
Conor Bradley, though, remains some way off.
“He is not close to training with the team. He is training alone, but he has started touching the ball. Definitely I want him back as soon as possible.”
The update on Leoni is only slightly more encouraging.
“Leoni is a little bit ahead of him and it is going to take some time for sure.”
So while Gomez offers a timely option, Iraola’s full-back resources are still stretched as the games pile up.
‘Worst scenario’ as schedule bites
If the Fulham stalemate felt laboured, the manager believes the calendar is a big part of the story.
“It’s the third game, it’s the worst scenario in terms of schedule, we haven’t been lucky,” he admitted, laying out the physical toll of this early-season run.
He pointed to the difference when his players have had time to breathe.
“After this one we have a little bit more before we play Bournemouth, also we had a little bit more between Ipswich and Atletico and Atletico and Fulham and you noticed. Five days in comparison to two to three days is a massive difference.
“It is what it is. After the international break we have four games in ten days, so we have to get used to it.”
That reality is driving his selection decisions. Rotation is no longer a luxury; it’s a necessity.
“You can put the same players in every game. The problem is there will be a moment they are very tired and there is more risk of injury.
“But there are players who play every three days and have no issues, they can accept it and performances don’t change too much. Then there are other players where the risk is bigger and the performances are different.”
Iraola’s learning curve
This is not just about fitness data. It is about discovery.
“And I am in a position where I have to learn who is ready to play every two or three days and who is ready to rest so their performance level doesn’t drop,” Iraola said.
“I had an idea with some of them, but for some of them it is new as they haven’t played as many games and we are learning.”
Tottenham in the cup, Bournemouth in the league, a brutal block of fixtures waiting on the other side of the international break – this is the stretch where Iraola will find out which Liverpool players can live with his demands and which ones can’t.
