Liverpool entered the pre‑season friendly at Anfield with a comfortable two‑goal cushion, only to see Monaco rally from behind and clinch a 3‑2 victory in Andoni Iraola's very first game in charge. The early dominance came courtesy of Alexander Isak and Florian WirtW, who put the Reds ahead, but history repeated itself from the previous week’s Chicago encounter with Leeds, where Liverpool also led by two goals before eventually losing 4‑2.
This time, despite the promising start, the team could not sustain its momentum. The turning point arrived when Aleksandr Golovin stepped up to convert a penalty, narrowing the gap, and soon after Mika Biereth found the net to level the scores. With the match poised at 2‑2, Paris Brunner rose to the occasion, heading in a late winner that sent the Monaco supporters into raptures. While the result was disappointing for Liverpool fans, the match served as a valuable learning experience for Iraola, who used the second half to experiment heavily, making eleven changes and handing a debut to new signing Victor Muñoz.
Several of Liverpool's World Cup veterans returned to action, with Virgil van Dijk and Alisson featuring in the starting eleven. Muñoz, although on the bench for much of the first half, eventually earned a brief cameo as a substitute, receiving a warm ovation from the crowd.
On the Monaco side, Eric Dier captained the side, while high‑profile names such as Paul Pogba and Takumi Minamino were absent from the squad. Key moments of the game included a spectacular save by Monaco goalkeeper David Hradecky, who dived low to his left to deny a curling effort from Florian Wirtz after a clever assist from Isak.
At the 16‑minute mark, Isak opened the scoring with a well‑timed finish after a one‑two combination between Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai, slotting the ball into the bottom corner. Liverpool appeared to be cruising at 29 minutes when a chaotic scramble in the six‑yard box produced a goal for Wirtz, who poked the ball home from just two yards out.
Monaco's comeback began with Golovin's penalty at the 43rd minute. After charging into the box and slipping past Van Dijk, he was brought down just inside the area, prompting the referee to point to the spot. Golovin's strike was powerful and precise, leaving Alisson with little chance and restoring parity. Shortly after, at the 56th minute, Biereth capitalised on a rebound after his initial effort was saved by Liverpool's keeper, Mamardashvili, and calmly finished from close range.
The second half saw further tactical experimentation. Victor Muñoz entered as a substitute at the 61st minute, drawing cheers from the Anfield faithful.
Monaco continued to press, with a notable save from Mamardashvili at the 70th minute when Coulibaly's header was tipped away. The decisive moment arrived in the 88th minute when a well‑delivered corner found Paris Brunner, who rose at the near post to head the ball home, completing Monaco's comeback from two goals down. After the final whistle, Iraola reflected on the performance, drawing parallels with the Leeds friendly. "We played a good first half but lacked the intensity required for the full 90 minutes," he said.
"The senior players showed different levels of energy, and the younger ones, despite their enthusiasm, simply ran out of steam. We need more training time together to build stamina and cohesion." Looking ahead, Iraola expressed optimism about the availability of new signings Jeremy Jacquet and Curtis Jones for the upcoming friendly against Como. He noted that Jacquet was being eased back into action, while Jones had a minor hip issue that warranted caution.
Van Dijk, who made his first appearance under Iraola, praised the new manager's approach, stating, "Our conversation at the start of the week was positive. I told him I'm here to support him in any way needed, and I believe we can be successful this season. The transition from Arne Slot's staff to the new setup will take time, but I’m confident in the direction we’re heading." Florian Wirtz, the young German talent, also voiced his excitement about working with Iraola, saying, "Seeing what he achieved at Bournemouth over the past three years gives us confidence. The first weeks have been enjoyable, and we look forward to what lies ahead." The fixture list for Liverpool's pre‑season tour continues with matches against Sunderland in Nashville (July 25, 4‑2 win), Wrexham in New York (July 30, 1‑0 win), Leeds in Chicago (August 2, 2‑4 loss), and the upcoming clash with Como at Anfield on August 16 at 6 pm.
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In summary, while the 3‑2 defeat to Monaco was a setback, it offered valuable insights into the squad's fitness levels, tactical flexibility, and the integration of new players under Andoni Iraola's leadership. The experience will undoubtedly shape training priorities as Liverpool prepares for the upcoming season, aiming to translate pre‑season lessons into consistent performances in competitive matches.