Andoni Iraola opened the press conference by pointing out that some athletes can cope with a match every two or three days without any noticeable dip in form, while others are more vulnerable and see a clear decline in their output. He stressed that part of his job is to identify which squad members can handle a tight schedule and which need a longer recovery period to maintain their performance levels.
"I have a few ideas about certain players, but for many it’s new territory because they haven’t been asked to play that many games in such a short span," he explained. The practical test of his theory arrived on a Saturday at Anfield when Liverpool were held to a lacklustre draw by a Fulham side that had already lost its first three league outings. The mid‑week Europa League clash against Atletico Madrid clearly took its toll.
After the match, Iraola admitted, "There was a definite lack of freshness – we can’t pretend otherwise." He described the situation as "the worst turnaround" allowed under Premier League scheduling rules, yet acknowledged that Liverpool will have to adapt quickly. He warned that such congested periods will become a regular feature of the season, sometimes offering an extra day of rest, sometimes not.
A quick glance at the upcoming calendar underlines the challenge. Immediately after the international break, Liverpool host Manchester City in a high‑stakes league encounter, then travel to Austria for a Champions League tie with LASK Linz, and within 72 hours are back on the road to face Brentford.
The sequence continues in October with a home game against Arsenal, a mid‑week trip to Fenerbahçe, and an away match at Crystal Palace, followed by a November itinerary that pits them against Club Brugge, Manchester United and Everton in rapid succession. The demanding schedule is the reality for any elite club, and the big question for Iraola has always been how his players will react to the intense, high‑pressing style that defines his philosophy while still delivering consistent, high‑quality performances.
"I’m asking them to do things that are a little different, especially when we’re out of possession, and I think they’re beginning to understand," he said during pre‑season. New signing Alexander Isak echoed that sentiment after a friendly against Monaco, noting, "We’re all working hard to make it work." The Fulham match was the first real litmus test of how the two worlds – a grueling Champions League night and a fast‑paced Premier League fixture – would collide. Liverpool had to come from behind to win the European tie, then immediately needed to dictate the tempo against Fulham.
Iraola was candid in his post‑match analysis, observing that the team arrived late to the first press in the opening half. Although tactical tweaks were introduced at halftime, the problem persisted. Liverpool’s tendency to split into a compact defensive block while the front line presses high has been a hallmark of the Klopp era, and it resurfaced against Fulham. At times, players like Josh King found themselves with unexpected pockets of space as the press broke down, allowing Fulham’s goalkeeper Bernd Leno to launch a simple distribution that removed several Liverpool attackers from the play.
While not ideal, Iraola is unlikely to abandon the pressing ethos. Statistically, Liverpool’s Pressing‑per‑Defensive‑Action (PPDA) metric sits at 8.6 so far this season – a figure that even under Jurgen Klopp’s full‑season averages was higher. Against Fulham the PPDA rose slightly, suggesting the squad was a bit slower than usual, yet the team still leads the league in total sprints and ranks 12th for overall distance covered.
They are running more, sprinting more and pressing more, which is precisely why Iraola was hired: to revive that high‑energy brand of football. To keep the intensity sustainable, Iraola has begun rotating his wide players, giving minutes to Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister. However, he also persisted with Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz against Fulham, and neither matched the sharpness they displayed three days earlier.
Wirtz, in particular, looked sloppy on the ball, prompting some fans to question whether his reputation can excuse sub‑par displays. Yet his work‑rate remains impressive – he is second in the league for high‑speed distance covered – and could become a key example of a player capable of handling three‑day turnarounds. Iraola admitted that fielding the same eleven every game is tempting, but “there will be moments when they are very tired and the risk of injury rises.” With Hugo Ekitike sidelined, Liverpool cannot afford to lose a forward like Isak to fatigue or injury, especially if his natural game does not align with a pressing system.
The same scrutiny applies to midfield options; perhaps veteran Wataru Endo or emerging talent Trey Nyoni will be called upon to provide stability. In summary, Iraola’s pressing blueprint is being tested under the most demanding conditions of a top‑flight season. The manager acknowledges that this is a learning curve, both for himself and his squad, as they navigate weeks with three games, sometimes four, in quick succession.
The key will be balancing rotation, recovery, and tactical consistency so that Liverpool can sustain the high‑press without compromising results or player health. The upcoming fixtures against Manchester City, Arsenal and other heavyweight opponents will provide further insight into whether Iraola’s approach can become a permanent, effective fixture in Liverpool’s playbook.