Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola will be analyzing a tale of two halves from his team's performance during their pre-season tour of the United States, which concluded with a 4-2 defeat against Leeds. The manager heads home with significant reflection points after a tour that highlighted both strengths and considerable weaknesses.
The first half of the friendly against Leeds was described as arguably the best performance since Iraola took charge. However, the second half saw a dramatic downturn, with the team conceding four goals in 25 minutes. Iraola acknowledged the second-half capitulation was unacceptable, even after making numerous substitutions at halftime.
"We have to fix that and make sure we deal with them better," said midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, specifically referencing the two goals conceded from set-pieces. The lack of squad depth and physical presence was starkly exposed, with Leeds scoring with ease against a young defensive unit that included Calvin Ramsay, Ifeanyi Ndukwe, and Mor Talla Ndiaye.
Despite the disappointing finish, Iraola noted the team's excellent first-half display, which featured returning players Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz. The manager indicated he was perhaps glad to have seen the second-half struggles, as it brought deficiencies, such as set-piece vulnerabilities, to light. The intensity seen in the first half appeared to vanish after the break, with senior players like Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa unable to significantly influence the game.
Earlier in the week, Iraola expressed some uncertainty regarding the squad composition. "I particularly hate this month of August because you start the competitions and you still don't know if some of the players are going to leave and who's going to come - there is a lot of uncertainty," he stated.
Key players including Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, Alisson Becker, and new signing Victor Munoz are set to join the squad at the AXA Training Centre. Munoz, who did not feature in Spain's World Cup campaign, will integrate earlier than some other World Cup participants. Alexis Mac Allister will be granted additional time off following Argentina's run to the World Cup final. The pre-season tour in America saw no new player incomings, a decision Iraola linked to his desire to first assess the existing squad. The performances observed during the tour, particularly the second-half collapse against Leeds, are expected to heavily influence his upcoming decisions regarding player recruitment and squad management.