Andoni Iraola has been candid about the challenges of implementing his aggressive pressing philosophy at Liverpool. He noted that some athletes can handle a match every two or three days without a noticeable dip in form, while others are more vulnerable and may see a decline in performance if the schedule is too tight. "I need to identify which players can cope with a two‑ or three‑day turnaround and which ones need a rest to keep their level steady," he explained, adding that the club is still learning how to manage a squad that hasn't been accustomed to such a congested calendar. The issue became evident on Saturday at Anfield when Liverpool were held to a lacklustre draw by Fulham, a side that had lost its first three league games.
The mid‑week Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid in Europe appeared to have taken its toll. After the match, Iraola admitted, "We were missing freshness, and you can’t hide that. It was the worst possible turnaround allowed by Premier League rules, and we’ll have to adapt quickly." Looking ahead, the fixture list underscores the intensity of the schedule.
After the upcoming international break, Liverpool face Manchester City at home, then travel to Austria for a Champions League tie against LASK Linz, and within 72 hours are back on the road to meet Brentford. In October, a heavyweight home game against Arsenal is followed by a mid‑week trip to Fenerbahçe, then a visit to Crystal Palace. November brings a clash with Club Brugge sandwiched between matches against Manchester United and Everton.
Such a packed timetable tests the depth and resilience of any top‑level side, and for Iraola, the central question is whether his players can sustain a high‑intensity, hard‑running style while avoiding fatigue‑related dips. In pre‑season, Iraola stressed that he was asking his squad to adopt new behaviours, especially when out of possession.
He said, "I’m asking them to do things a bit differently, particularly without the ball, and I think they are starting to understand." Forward Alexander Isak echoed this sentiment after a friendly with Monaco, noting that the group was working hard to make the system function. The Fulham game was the first real test of how the two worlds—intense pressing and a congested schedule—collide.
Liverpool had to recover from a deficit in a taxing Champions League night before being asked to dictate the tempo against a well‑organized Fulham side. Iraola was honest in his post‑match briefing, pointing out that the team was "late to the presses" in the first half. Although tactical tweaks were made at halftime, the problem persisted.
Liverpool’s typical pattern of splitting the team—defenders dropping deep while attackers press high—was evident, but it also created gaps that Fulham exploited. Players like Josh King found space between the lines, and goalkeeper Bernd Leno was able to release the ball with ease, pulling several Liverpool forwards out of the action. While this is not the ideal scenario for a pressing philosophy, Iraola is unlikely to abandon the approach altogether. Statistically, Liverpool’s Pressing‑per‑Defensive‑Action (PPDA) sits at an impressive 8.6, the lowest figure recorded this season and even lower than any full season under Jürgen Klopp.
Against Fulham, the PPDA rose slightly, suggesting the squad was not operating at its usual intensity. Nevertheless, Liverpool currently leads the Premier League in total sprints and ranks 12th in overall distance covered, underscoring the physical commitment of the team. The challenge now is to translate that raw work rate into consistent, effective pressing across every fixture.
Iraola has begun to rotate his wide players, giving minutes to Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister, while still relying heavily on Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz. The latter struggled against Fulham, displaying sloppy ball handling that has frustrated some fans who expected more from a player with a high reputation. Wirtz, however, ranks second in the league for high‑speed distance covered, indicating that his work rate remains a valuable asset.
Iraola acknowledged that "you can field the same eleven every game, but eventually fatigue sets in and injury risk rises." With key attackers like Hugo Ekitike sidelined, Liverpool cannot afford to lose players such as Isak to overexertion. Questions arise about whether Isak’s style fits a pressing forward role, and similar doubts linger over the midfield contingent. Trusting experienced figures like Wataru Endo or giving opportunities to emerging talents such as Trey Nyoni may provide the balance needed. In summary, Iraola’s tenure at Liverpool is still in its early stages, and the learning curve is steep.
The manager must discover which players can handle a three‑game‑a‑week rhythm, how to maintain pressing intensity without sacrificing freshness, and how to adapt tactics when the schedule forces rapid turnarounds. The upcoming weeks will be a crucial period for testing these variables, and the outcomes will shape the future direction of Liverpool’s high‑pressing identity under Iraola’s guidance.