Andoni Iraola has been candid about the challenges his pressing philosophy presents for Liverpool’s squad. He noted that some athletes can comfortably handle matches every two or three days without a noticeable dip in form, while others are more vulnerable and see their performances suffer under such a schedule. "I have to identify who can cope with a tight turnaround and who needs a rest to keep their level high," he said, adding that he is still learning which players fit each category, especially as many have not been subjected to such a congested calendar before. The issue became evident on Saturday at Anfield when Liverpool were held to a lacklustre draw by Fulham, a side that had lost its opening three league games.
The mid‑week Europa League clash with Atletico Madrid seemed to have taken its toll. After the match, Iraola admitted the team was visibly lacking freshness, describing the situation as "the worst turnaround" permitted by Premier League regulations.
He warned that such tight turnarounds will become a regular feature of the season, sometimes with just a single day of recovery between games. A quick glance at Liverpool’s upcoming schedule underlines the intensity of the workload.
Following the international break, the Reds host Manchester City, then travel to Austria for a Champions League tie against LASK Linz, and within 72 hours find themselves away at Brentford. In October the pattern repeats: a home showdown with Arsenal, a mid‑week trip to Fenerbahçe, then an away match at Crystal Palace. November brings a visit to Club Brugge sandwiched between fixtures against Manchester United and Everton.
This relentless rhythm epitomises the demands placed on a top‑flight side. For Iraola, the central question is whether his players can embrace the high‑intensity, high‑pressing style that defines his coaching identity while still delivering consistent, high‑quality performances.
He has already told his squad that he expects them to execute slightly different tasks, particularly when the ball is out of possession, and that they are beginning to understand these new demands. Alexander Isak echoed this sentiment after a preseason friendly against Monaco, emphasizing the collective effort required to make the system work. The Fulham game was the first true test of Iraola’s ideas under competitive pressure. Liverpool had just endured a draining Champions League night in which they had to come from behind to secure a win.
The subsequent Premier League fixture demanded that they impose their tempo from the outset. In the post‑match press conference, Iraola highlighted the team’s sluggishness in the first half, especially their late arrival to pressing positions. Although tactical tweaks were introduced at halftime, the problem persisted.
Liverpool’s traditional split‑team shape—defenders sitting deep while attackers press high—has been a hallmark of Jurgen Klopp’s era. Against Fulham, this structure occasionally broke down, leaving gaps that opponents like Josh King could exploit.
When the press failed, Fulham’s goalkeeper Bernd Leno was able to launch easy distribution, removing several Liverpool forwards from the attack and exposing the risk of an over‑aggressive press. Statistically, Liverpool’s Pressing‑Points‑Per‑Defensive‑Action (PPDA) sits at an impressive 8.6 this season, even lower than any full season under Klopp. However, against Fulham the PPDA rose above the average, suggesting the squad was not operating at its usual intensity. Despite this, Liverpool currently leads the Premier League in total sprints and ranks 12th for overall distance covered, confirming that the team is indeed running more, sprinting more, and pressing more than most rivals.
Iraola’s mandate was to re‑introduce this brand of relentless football, but the real challenge lies in sustaining it week after week. To manage player fatigue, he has begun rotating wingers and midfielders, giving Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister more minutes, while still relying heavily on Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz.
The latter, however, struggled against Fulham, appearing sloppy and failing to reach the high standards he displayed just three days earlier. Wirtz’s work‑rate remains a talking point; he is currently second in the league for high‑speed distance covered, which could make him a candidate for the “every‑three‑days” role Iraola is trying to define. Yet fans are growing impatient with repeated excuses for a player who arrived with a stellar reputation. The same scrutiny applies to other newcomers like Hugo Ekitike, who is unavailable, and Alexander Isak, whose suitability as a natural pressing forward remains uncertain.
Midfield options such as Trey Nyoni and the experienced Wataru Endo may also need to be considered to balance the workload. Iraola acknowledges that this is a learning curve for both him and the squad.
Navigating three matches in a single week is a novel challenge for a manager renowned for his tactical acumen, and finding the right rotation, recovery protocols, and tactical tweaks will be essential. The coming weeks will reveal whether Liverpool can maintain the high‑press intensity without compromising player health or performance, and whether Iraola’s philosophy can truly take root at Anfield.
The journey ahead is demanding, but the potential rewards are significant. If the Reds can master the art of pressing on a congested schedule, they could regain the relentless, forward‑pushing identity that once made them one of Europe’s most feared sides. The coming months will be the true test of Iraola’s ability to adapt his ideas to the rigours of Premier League and European football, and to discover which players can thrive when asked to press every two or three days without losing effectiveness.