Andoni Iraola has been candid about the challenges his pressing philosophy presents for a club that is now playing three matches in as many days. He noted that some athletes can cope with a game every two or three days without a noticeable dip in form, while others are more vulnerable and see their performances suffer. "I have to learn who can handle a two- or three‑day turnaround and who needs a rest to keep their level high," he said, adding that his observations are still in the early stages because many of his squad members have not endured such a congested schedule before. The truth of his words became evident on a Saturday at Anfield when Liverpool were held to a dull draw by Fulham – a side that had lost its first three league fixtures.
The mid‑week Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid the previous night had clearly taken its toll. After the match, Iraola did not mince words: "We lacked freshness, and you can see it," he insisted. He described the situation as "the worst turnaround" allowed under Premier League rules, but also warned that the club will have to adapt quickly because such tight turnarounds will become a regular feature of the season.
A quick glance at Liverpool's upcoming calendar underscores the intensity of the workload. Following the international break, the Reds host Manchester City – a high‑stakes Premier League encounter – before jetting to Austria for a Champions League tie with LASK Linz. Within 72 hours of that away game, they travel again to face Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium. The October schedule reads: - 11 Oct – Manchester City (home) - 14 Oct – LASK Linz (away) - 17 Oct – Brentford (away) November is no less demanding.
After a home showdown with Arsenal, Liverpool head to Turkey for a mid‑week match against Fenerbahçe, then travel to Selhurst Park for a league game against Crystal Palace. Later in the month, a trip to Belgium to play Club Brugge is sandwiched between fixtures against Manchester United and Everton.
This relentless sequence illustrates the reality of competing at the very top of English and European football. Iraola's biggest unknown has always been how his players will react to a high‑pressing, hard‑running system while still meeting the club's high technical standards. In pre‑season he explained that he is asking his squad to do things that differ from what they are used to, especially when the ball is out of their possession.
Alexander Isak, who arrived from Newcastle, echoed the sentiment after a friendly against Monaco: "We are all working hard to make it work." The Fulham game was the first genuine test of how the two worlds – a taxing Champions League night and a fast‑paced Premier League fixture – collide. Liverpool had to come from behind to win the European tie, then immediately needed to impose a high press against a well‑organised Fulham side. Iraola admitted in the post‑match press conference that the team arrived late to the first press in the opening half. Although the manager made tactical adjustments at halftime, the problem persisted.
Liverpool have traditionally displayed a split‑team tendency: the back line sits deep while the forwards press high. Against Fulham, this left gaps that allowed players like Josh King to find surprising pockets of space.
When Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno collected the ball, he was able to release it quickly, removing several Liverpool attackers from the action and exposing the danger of a disjointed press. Statistically, Liverpool's pressing intensity is measured by Passes Allowed Per Defensive Action (PPDA).
So far this season the Reds sit at an impressive 8.6 – a figure lower than any full season under Jürgen Klopp. In the Fulham match the PPDA rose above the season average, suggesting that the squad was a little slower than usual, as Iraola suspected.
Nevertheless, Liverpool lead the league in total sprints and rank 12th in overall distance covered, confirming that the players are indeed running more, sprinting more, and pressing more than most of their rivals. These numbers illustrate why the club hired Iraola: there was a clear demand to return to a brand of football built on relentless energy and pressure.
The challenge now is to sustain that intensity week after week without compromising effectiveness or increasing injury risk. To help manage fatigue, Iraola has begun rotating his wide players, giving Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister more minutes, while still relying heavily on Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz.
Both wingers were tasked with the Fulham press, yet neither matched the sharpness they displayed just three days earlier. Wirtz, in particular, looked tentative with the ball, prompting some fans to question whether his reputation can survive repeated criticism. Yet his work‑rate remains a strong point – he currently ranks second in the league for high‑speed distance covered.
This could make him a candidate for Iraola's search for players who can handle a three‑day turnaround. As the manager admitted on Monday, "You can field the same players every game, but eventually they get tired and the injury risk rises." With striker Hugo Ekitike sidelined, Liverpool cannot afford to lose a forward like Isak to fatigue or injury.
The Swedish attacker is not a natural press‑oriented forward, raising questions about his suitability for Iraola's system. Similar doubts linger over the midfield, where the manager must decide whether to trust the youthful energy of Trey Nyoni or lean on the experience of Wataru Endo to anchor the press. Iraola repeatedly stresses that this is a learning curve and that he is navigating uncharted territory.
The central question – how to manage three matches in a week without sacrificing quality – has always loomed large for a coach of his calibre. The coming months will reveal whether his high‑press blueprint can be calibrated to the physical realities of a congested schedule while still delivering the exciting, aggressive football Liverpool fans expect.