Andoni Iraola, the manager of Liverpool, expressed a positive outlook following his team’s 2-0 victory against Como in a friendly match held at Anfield on Sunday evening.
The Reds concluded their pre-season preparations for the 2026-27 campaign successfully, with goals scored in the first half by Cody Gakpo and debutant Jeremy Jaquet.
This match was the second encounter between the clubs on the same day, with the initial match, played at the AXA training ground, ending in a 0-0 draw.
Iraola on the Friendly Win: “I’m Satisfied, But We Have Work to Do”
Following the match, Iraola spoke to the club’s official website, stating: “I believe we needed this feeling, to finish without conceding a goal and to win the match. The first half was better than the second, but at least we maintained our organization and composure, and we found a way to finish with a clean sheet at 2-0. We needed this feeling before the season starts. I’m satisfied, but we have work to do. We need to be better!”
Highlights from the Match
Regarding the performances of Jaquet and Ronald Araujo, Iraola commented: “Yes, both performed well. I think Jeremy played very well. Ronald also had a solid performance after coming on. When you have two new faces in their first match, and they perform so well, it’s wonderful. I must also mention Jeremy Frimpong’s excellent performance, playing 90 minutes as a right-back, contributing offensively while also solidifying his defensive duties. Overall, we had strong individual performances in defense.”
On the physical condition of the players, he noted: “I think we are in better shape than we were last week. However, I hope that next week we will be even better. It’s normal for the first halves to be stronger than the second. Today, though, many players logged 80-90 minutes and finished without cramps or serious issues. Thus, we continue to build on physical preparation, as well as the mentality to stay focused, even when not as fresh, to avoid serious mistakes. I see improvement, but we still have work to do, especially in the second half.”
Looking ahead to the Premier League debut against Newcastle on Friday, August 23, at 18:30, Iraola stated: “Now we will have two to three full weeks to train, even if the match against Ipswich in the third round is on Friday. Ultimately, we need practice; we must train together. Some players who started today need to build connections among themselves, find ways to solve problems on the field, and analyze what we can improve, especially from today’s second half. This takes time. I believe we can use these two to three full weeks to be ready for the season.”
Regarding the team’s adaptation to his methods, he concluded: “Yes, I believe everyone understands. We need every player, at all times, in every minute, for every action, and that is the commitment. I’m very pleased with the players’ attitude. They train very well. I ask them to do things that are slightly different, especially without the ball, and I believe they are trying to learn them. Clearly, we are not perfect yet. We have things to improve, but I am very happy with their attitude and their willingness to be on the same wavelength, and we will achieve our goals.”
