Liverpool surrendered a two‑goal advantage in a pre‑season friendly at Anfield, allowing Monaco to turn the tables and claim a 3-2 win in Andoni Iraola's inaugural match as the Reds' manager. The Spanish coach, who took charge only a few weeks ago, watched his side dominate early before the French club produced a dramatic comeback.
The opening spell belonged to Liverpool. Alexander Isak, the Swedish striker, combined with Florian Wirtz to put the home side ahead. Isak finished a slick move on the edge of the box, slipping the ball into the bottom corner after a one‑two with Daniël Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai.
That strike gave the fans a glimpse of the attacking potential Iraola hopes to unlock. A second goal soon followed when a cross from the right was met by a scramble inside six yards, and Wirtz pounced, tapping the ball home from close range.
At the half‑time whistle, Liverpool were comfortably 2-0 up and appeared to be on course for a routine victory. However, the second half unfolded very differently. Iraola, who had already announced an ambitious plan to rotate his squad, made eleven changes at the break.
Among the newcomers was Victor Muñoz, a recent signing who earned his first Liverpool appearance as a substitute. The manager seemed more interested in giving his squad minutes and testing different combinations than in protecting the lead. Monaco responded instantly. Aleksandr Golovin surged into the box, drew a foul on Virgil van Dijk and earned a penalty.
Alisson, Liverpool's new goalkeeper, guessed to his left, but Golovin's spot‑kick was powerful enough to find the top corner, reducing the deficit to one. The French side continued to press, and Mika Biereth, who had been on the bench, entered the fray. After a saved effort, the ball fell back to him and he calmly slotted the equaliser, making it 2-2.
The match seemed destined for a draw until the 88th minute, when Paris Brunner rose above the Liverpool defence to head in a well‑delivered corner at the near post. Monaco had completed a remarkable comeback, overturning a two‑goal deficit to take the lead at the iconic stadium. Iraola's post‑match comments reflected his pragmatic outlook. He likened the encounter to the recent friendly against Leeds in Chicago, where Liverpool also surrendered a two‑goal lead.
"We played a good first half but we lacked the intensity to see it through," he said. "The senior players showed different levels of performance, and the younger ones, while energetic, simply did not have the stamina for a full 90 minutes.
We need more training together and will take both positives and negatives from today." He also mentioned the availability of new signings Jeremy Jacquet and Curtis Jones for the upcoming friendly against Como. Jacquet missed the Monaco match as the coaching staff wanted to give him a little more time to settle, while Jones suffered a minor hip issue that warranted caution. Defender Virgil van Dijk, who featured in his first game under Iraola, praised the new manager's approach. "Our conversation at the start was clear – I'm here to support him however he needs," van Dijk explained.
"The staff have introduced new preparation methods, and while I enjoyed working with Arne Slot, I'm confident we can adapt and succeed under Andoni." Monaco's midfielder Florian Wirtz also expressed optimism about the partnership with Iraola, noting the manager's successful stint at Bournemouth and his ability to improve a team's cohesion. "The first weeks have been enjoyable, and I'm looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together," he remarked. The match featured several notable moments beyond the goals.
Liverpool's goalkeeper Alisson made a spectacular save early on, diving low to his left to deny Wirtz a curling strike after Isak's clever footwork set him up. Later, Monaco's defender Coulibaly headed a powerful effort that was comfortably handled by Liverpool's new keeper, Mamardashvili, who kept the scoreline close. The friendly also served as a platform for returning World Cup veterans.
Both van Dijk and Alisson started, while other stars such as Paul Pogba and Takumi Minamino were absent from the squad. Monaco's captain, Eric Dier, led his side with composure, guiding the team through a resilient second‑half performance. Looking ahead, Liverpool's pre‑season itinerary includes a series of high‑profile fixtures: a 4-2 win over Sunderland in Nashville on July 25, a 1-0 victory against Wrexham in New York on July 30, a 2-4 defeat to Leeds in Chicago on August 2, and the upcoming clash with Como at Anfield on August 16. These matches will provide further opportunities for Iraola to fine‑tune his tactics, integrate new signings, and build the fitness needed for a demanding Premier League campaign.
In summary, the Anfield friendly highlighted both the promise and the growing pains of Liverpool's new era. While the early dominance suggested a seamless transition, the second‑half collapse underscored the work required to instill consistency, stamina, and tactical discipline across the squad.
Fans left the stadium with mixed feelings, but the experience offered valuable lessons for Iraola and his staff as they prepare for the challenges of the forthcoming season.