Andoni Iraola has been candid about the challenges his pressing philosophy presents for a club that now faces a congested schedule. He noted that some athletes can comfortably feature every two or three days without a noticeable dip in form, while others struggle when the turnaround is too short.
"I have to identify who can handle a game every two or three days and who needs a longer rest to keep their level up," he said, acknowledging that his squad is still learning the nuances of this demanding approach, especially for those who have not been accustomed to such a high volume of matches. The reality of those words became evident on a Saturday at Anfield when Liverpool were held to a lacklustre draw by Fulham, a side that had already lost its first three league games. The mid‑week clash with Atletico Madrid in the Champions League appeared to have taken its toll, leaving the Reds visibly fatigued. After the match, Iraola did not mince words: "There was a clear lack of freshness – we cannot hide that," he declared, describing the situation as the "worst turnaround" allowed under Premier League scheduling rules.
He added that such tight fixtures are likely to become a regular feature of the season, sometimes with just a single day between games. A quick glance at Liverpool's upcoming calendar underscores the intensity of the workload.
Following the international break, the team hosts Manchester City in what promises to be a physically demanding encounter, then travels to Austria for a Champions League tie against LASK Linz, and within 72 hours is back on the road to face Brentford. The October schedule alone reads: - 11 Oct – Manchester City (home) - 14 Oct – LASK Linz (away) - 17 Oct – Brentford (away) November is no less brutal, with a high‑profile home game against Arsenal, a mid‑week trip to Fenerbahçe, and an away fixture at Crystal Palace. Later, a visit to Club Brugge is sandwiched between matches against Manchester United and Everton.
This relentless rhythm is the new normal for any top‑flight side, and Iraola's biggest test is to see whether his players can sustain the aggressive, high‑pressing style that defines his tactical identity while maintaining the quality expected at Liverpool. In pre‑season, Iraola emphasized that he was asking his squad to adopt slightly different behaviours, particularly when out of possession. He cited Alexander Isak's comments after a friendly with Monaco as evidence that the players are working hard to adapt: "We are all putting in the effort to make it work." The Fulham game, however, was the first real litmus test of how the two worlds – a draining European night and a domestic fixture that demanded relentless pressing – would collide. Iraola's post‑match analysis was clear‑cut.
He observed that Liverpool were "late to the presses" especially in the first half, and although tactical tweaks were introduced at halftime, the problem persisted. The team's tendency to split into a compact defensive block while the forwards press high created gaps that Fulham exploited. Players such as Josh King found space in those voids, and a mis‑controlled pass by goalkeeper Bernd Leno allowed Fulham to relieve pressure and launch counter‑attacks, removing several Liverpool attackers from the game.
Despite this setback, Iraola is unlikely to abandon his pressing philosophy; he views the short‑term growing pains as part of a longer learning curve. Statistically, Liverpool's Pressing‑Per‑Defensive‑Action (PPDA) figure sits at an impressive 8.6, the lowest of any side this season and even better than any full campaign under Jürgen Klopp. Against Fulham, the PPDA rose slightly, suggesting a marginal drop in intensity, but the club still leads the league in total sprints and ranks 12th in overall distance covered.
These metrics underline that the team is indeed running more, sprinting more, and pressing more than most of their rivals – exactly the kind of output that justified Iraola's appointment. To manage fatigue, Iraola has begun rotating his wide players, giving minutes to Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister while still relying heavily on the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz. Unfortunately, both Szoboszlai and Wirtz appeared below the levels they displayed just three days earlier, with Wirtz in particular looking careless with the ball.
Critics are beginning to question whether the club should continue to excuse such performances given the players' high profiles. Yet, Wirtz is second in the league for high‑speed distance covered, indicating a strong work‑rate that could compensate for occasional technical lapses. Iraola admitted that the ability to field the same eleven in consecutive games is a luxury that comes with risk: "You can play the same players every match, but eventually they become tired and the injury risk rises." With key forward Hugo Ekitike sidelined, Liverpool cannot afford to lose a player like Isak to fatigue or injury.
The question also arises whether Isak, a Swedish striker, is a natural fit for a pressing system, or if the midfield needs more experienced options such as Trey Nyoni or veteran Wataru Endo to provide balance. Overall, Iraola frames the situation as a learning process. He acknowledges that navigating three games in a week is uncharted territory for him, yet he remains confident that with careful player management and tactical adjustments, Liverpool can sustain their high‑press identity without compromising results.
The coming weeks will be a decisive period for the new manager, as he seeks to refine his rotation policy, fine‑tune the pressing triggers, and ensure that the squad can maintain intensity across the relentless schedule that defines modern top‑level football.