Pre‑season fixtures often spark heated debate about their real significance, and opinions differ wildly depending on who you ask. Supporters, eager to see football back after a summer filled with alternative pastimes, are especially keen to watch new signings take to the pitch and to sense any early signs of momentum building for the upcoming campaign. Yet at Anfield, that usual buzz has been abruptly muted, both on the field and behind the scenes.
There is no scientific formula that can translate pre‑season results into league performance. Consider last summer when Arsenal suffered a loss to Thomas Frank's Tottenham in a Hong Kong showcase and then fell at home to Villarreal in a later friendly. Within nine months, Frank was dismissed, yet Arsenal went on to clinch the Premier League title and came within a penalty shoot‑out of capturing the Champions League. By that logic, Liverpool’s recent two‑goal defeats to Leeds United and Monaco could be dismissed as inconsequential blips.
Nonetheless, there are encouraging signs for new manager Andoni Iraola. Young talents Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak—both of whom endured challenging first seasons on Merseyside—have found their footing in the friendlies, each getting on the scoresheet against Monaco on Sunday. These individual flashes of quality suggest that the squad possesses the raw ingredients needed for success.
However, a broader narrative is emerging, and Iraola has already felt compelled to address it publicly with less than two weeks remaining before Liverpool’s season opener against Newcastle on August 23, broadcast live on Sky Sports. The crux of the issue lies in fitness. Last season, Bournemouth, under Iraola, logged the most sprints of any Premier League side, reflecting the high‑press, physically demanding style he favours. Liverpool, by contrast, recorded the third‑fewest pressures and the second‑fewest high‑presses in the opponent’s half, indicating a stark mismatch between the tactical blueprint and the players’ conditioning.
While Jurgen Klopp’s tenure ingrained a pressing ethos at Anfield and many of his former starters remain, the transition to Arne Slot’s successor, Iraola, requires both mental and physical adaptation. The clock is ticking, and the window to fully embed the new philosophy is narrowing.
After the Monaco friendly, Iraola admitted that his squad might only be capable of sustaining his intensity for roughly thirty minutes at a time. "We played well in the first half, especially the first 30 minutes, but right now probably we don't have much more in terms of the level required to play like this," he told club channels. This candid assessment also highlighted the limited match minutes his players have accumulated. Other top clubs are already prioritising longer, more cohesive game time in their friendlies.
Manchester City, Arsenal and Aston Villa—all Champions League qualifiers—each kept at least five outfield starters on the pitch for 75 minutes or more last weekend. Liverpool managed only three players for a full hour. Even Newcastle, Liverpool’s opening opponents, gave six players at least 67 minutes against Valencia, despite an early injury to Jacob Murphy. The majority of Liverpool’s Sunday lineup could conceivably start the season at St James’ Park, and those starters were the ones who surged ahead 2‑0 against Monaco, offering brief glimpses of the pressing template Iraola wishes to implement.
Yet the fitness gap compared with rivals is widening, and depth will become increasingly vital. Depth issues are already evident. Chelsea, for example, rotated seamlessly, fielding Nicolas Jackson, Georginio Wijnaldum and Estevegio from the bench to secure a 3‑0 win over AC Milan.
Liverpool, by contrast, relied on a centre‑back pairing of Wataru Endo and Luke Chambers—both of whom spent the previous season on loan at Charlton—through most of the second half against Monaco. Beyond the back line, Liverpool’s bench is thin.
Victor Munoz and Milos Kerkez, likely starters against Newcastle, together recorded only eight Premier League starts last season, five of which came from 17‑year‑old Rio Ngumoha. Iraola is well aware of the squad’s limitations and, early in his tenure, warned the club that additional signings were essential. Yet the market response has been muted. The recent departure of Michael Edwards and ongoing speculation surrounding Richard Hughes’ future add further uncertainty.
Although the surprise acquisition of Ronald Araujo strengthens the defence, Liverpool still possess only two fit senior centre‑backs. Conor Bradley remains months away from returning, according to Iraola, while Kostas Tsimikas and Milos Kerkez are fortunately back to full fitness.
Looking ahead, Liverpool need more than a single forward to replace Mohamed Salah, especially as Tottenham have shown interest in Cody Gakpo and Inter Milan remain keen on Curtis Jones, who missed Sunday’s defeat entirely. After splurging over £400 million last summer—excluding outgoing fees—the expectation is that Liverpool should not be left shorthanded across multiple positions.
Some of the defensive frailties are not self‑inflicted. A string of injuries to Jeremy Jansen, Giovanni Leoni and now Joe Gomez has depleted the centre‑back pool, underscoring the role of bad luck alongside planning shortcomings. With only Alexis Mac Allister returning from World Cup duties, pre‑season is serving as a stark diagnostic tool for Iraola, exposing gaps particularly in wide‑forward roles and midfield depth.
Time is running out to plug those holes before the transfer window shuts in three weeks. Few fans anticipate a repeat of Slot’s debut season or a Premier League title for Liverpool by next May, but the distance between the current state and those aspirations will largely hinge on the club’s activity in the remaining transfer window. Will Iraola secure the reinforcements needed to close the fitness and depth gaps, or will Liverpool start the campaign lagging behind their rivals? The answer will shape the Reds’ fortunes for the season ahead.