Andoni Iraola has been candid about the challenges his pressing philosophy presents for Liverpool, especially when the squad is forced to play matches in rapid succession. He noted that some athletes can comfortably feature every two or three days without a noticeable dip in form, while others are more vulnerable and may see their performances suffer under a congested timetable.
"I have to learn who can handle the intensity of playing every two or three days and who needs a rest to keep their level high," he said, adding that he is still gathering data on players who have not yet experienced such a demanding schedule. The issue became starkly apparent on a 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 with Atletico Madrid in Europe appeared to have taken its toll. After the match, Iraola admitted the team showed clear signs of fatigue: "A lack of freshness, definitely. We cannot hide it," he declared. He described the situation as "the worst turnaround" in terms of the recovery time allowed under Premier League rules, but also stressed that Liverpool must adapt quickly if they are to compete on multiple fronts.
Looking ahead, the calendar offers little respite. Following the international break, Liverpool host Manchester City – a fixture that will test the squad's stamina – before heading to Austria for a Champions League tie against LASK Linz. Within 72 hours of that trip, they travel to Brentford for an away Premier League game. The October schedule reads: - Oct 11 – Manchester City (home) - Oct 14 – LASK Linz (away) - Oct 17 – Brentford (away) November is equally packed, with a home showdown against Arsenal, a mid‑week trip to Fenerbahçe, and a return to the league at Crystal Palace.
Later, a visit to Club Brugge is sandwiched between matches with Manchester United and Everton. Such a relentless rhythm illustrates the reality of managing a top‑level club: the squad must juggle domestic and continental commitments while maintaining a high‑pressing identity. Iraola’s core belief is that his players must embrace a vigorous, high‑press style that demands relentless movement, especially when the ball is lost.
He explained during pre‑season that he is asking his side to execute tasks that differ from what they are used to, particularly in the defensive phases. Alexander Isak, after a friendly against Monaco, echoed this sentiment, saying, "We are all working hard to make things work." The Fulham game served as the first real test of how the two worlds – a demanding Champions League night and a quick‑turnaround league match – collide.
Liverpool had to recover from a deficit in the European fixture, then immediately switch to a game that required them to dictate the tempo through pressing. Iraola was forthright in his post‑match analysis, noting that Liverpool were "late to the presses" in the first half. Although the team made tactical adjustments at halftime, the issue persisted, highlighting the difficulty of maintaining intensity when recovery time is limited. A recurring tactical pattern for Liverpool this season has been a split‑team shape: the back line retreats while the forwards press high up the pitch.
Against Fulham, this left gaps that allowed players like Josh King to find pockets of space. When Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno capitalised on a misplaced press and released a simple pass, several Liverpool attackers were caught out, underscoring the risk of an over‑aggressive approach when players are not fully recovered.
Statistically, Liverpool’s pressing intensity is measured by Passes Allowed Per Defensive Action (PPDA). So far this campaign, the team records a PPDA of 8.6 – a figure lower than any full season under Jürgen Klopp, indicating a very aggressive press. However, against Fulham the PPDA rose slightly, suggesting the squad was not operating at its usual tempo. Despite this, Liverpool have logged the most sprints in the Premier League and sit 12 places higher than any other side in total distance covered, confirming that the physical output remains high.
Iraola’s mandate was to re‑introduce this high‑energy brand of football, and the early data shows the players are indeed running more, sprinting more, and pressing more. The real test now is consistency: can Liverpool sustain this level week after week without compromising results or risking injuries? To manage fatigue, Iraola has begun rotating personnel.
He has experimented with rotating wingers and midfielders such as Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister. Nonetheless, key players like Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz were retained for the Fulham match, and both appeared below the sharpness they displayed three days earlier.
Wirtz, in particular, was criticised for a sloppy touch, prompting some fans to question whether his reputation can justify continued leniency. Yet his work‑rate remains impressive; he ranks second in the league for high‑speed distance covered, suggesting he could be a candidate for the "every‑three‑days" rotation Iraola mentioned.
Iraola admitted that relying on the same eleven every match is unrealistic: "You can put the same players in every game, but eventually they will get very tired and the risk of injury rises." With Hugo Ekitike sidelined, Liverpool cannot afford to lose a player like Isak to fatigue or injury, especially if his natural game does not align perfectly with a high‑press system. Similar doubts arise for midfielders such as Trey Nyoni or veteran Wataru Endo, whose experience could be vital in managing the workload. Overall, Iraola acknowledges that this is a learning curve and that he operates in uncharted territory at Liverpool. The central question remains how he will balance three‑game weeks, maintain the aggressive press, and keep the squad healthy.
The coming months will reveal whether his methods can be refined to meet the relentless demands of English football while preserving the exciting, high‑press identity that Liverpool supporters crave.