Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola said his players lack the energy to sustain performance levels for 90 minutes [1].
The comments come as the club prepares for the upcoming Premier League season. Concerns over squad fitness could impact the team's ability to compete in high-intensity matches if stamina levels are not addressed quickly.
Liverpool suffered a 3-2 defeat to Monaco on Sunday during a preseason friendly at Anfield [1]. The result marks the second defeat of the preseason for the club [2]. Iraola said a lack of physical endurance was a primary cause for the loss, noting that the squad struggled to maintain the necessary intensity throughout the game.
"They don't have the energy for 90 minutes," Iraola said [3].
The head coach said the current fitness levels are insufficient for the demands of a full match. He said the team cannot sustain the required levels of performance for a full game [2]. While some reports suggested the intensity drops after 30 minutes, Iraola's primary concern remains the overall inability to finish matches strongly [3].
This lack of stamina led to second-half collapses that allowed Monaco to secure the victory. The defeat highlights a gap between the tactical requirements of Iraola's system and the current physical condition of the roster.
"We cannot sustain the required levels of performance for a full game," Iraola said [2].
As the preseason window closes, the coaching staff faces the challenge of boosting player conditioning without risking injuries. The physical drop-off seen at Anfield suggests that the transition to Iraola's preferred style of play may require more rigorous fitness preparation than previously anticipated.
“"They don't have the energy for 90 minutes."”
The public admission of fitness deficits by Andoni Iraola suggests a misalignment between the squad's current physical state and the high-pressing demands of his coaching philosophy. If the team cannot maintain intensity for a full match, they risk conceding late goals and dropping points in the Premier League, where physical endurance is a critical competitive factor.
