Andoni Iraola has been candid about the challenges his pressing system poses for Liverpool’s squad. He noted that some athletes can cope with a match every two or three days without a noticeable dip in form, while others are more vulnerable and may see their performances suffer. "I need to identify who can handle a three‑day turnaround and who needs a longer rest to keep their level steady," he said, acknowledging that this learning curve is new for several members of the group who haven’t been subjected to such a congested schedule before.
The issue became starkly apparent 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 Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid in Europe seemed to take its toll.
After the match, Iraola admitted, "There was a clear lack of freshness – we can’t hide that." He described the situation as the "worst turnaround" allowed under Premier League rules, but also stressed that Liverpool must adapt quickly because such scenarios will recur throughout the campaign. A quick glance at the upcoming calendar underlines the intensity of the workload.
Following the international break, Liverpool host Manchester City, then travel to Austria for a Champions League tie against LASK Linz, and within 72 hours are back on the road to face Brentford. In October, a high‑stakes home game against Arsenal is followed by 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 sequence epitomises the demands placed on a top‑flight side and tests Iraola’s philosophy of relentless, high‑intensity pressing. Iraola’s pre‑season remarks hinted at the difficulty of merging his aggressive, off‑the‑ball work rate with the need to keep players fresh. He explained, "I am asking them to do things that are a bit different, especially when we don’t have the ball, and I think they are starting to understand it." Alexander Isak, after a friendly against Monaco, echoed the sentiment: "We are all working hard to make it work." The Fulham game served as the first real test of this theory.
Liverpool had just endured a grueling Champions League night, where they had to overturn a deficit to claim victory, and then were expected to dictate the tempo against a side that, on paper, seemed less threatening. Iraola’s post‑match analysis was brutally honest: "In the first half we were late to the presses," he confessed, noting that tactical adjustments at halftime only partially solved the problem. Liverpool’s traditional split‑team shape – a compact defence that retreats while the front line presses high – was exposed. Fulham’s striker Josh King and his teammates found pockets of space between the lines, allowing them to relieve pressure and even create chances.
When Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno collected a loose ball and played it out quickly, several Liverpool attackers were left out of the action, highlighting the risk of an over‑committed press. Statistically, Liverpool’s pressing intensity is measured by Passes Allowed Per Defensive Action (PPDA).
So far this season, the team’s PPDA sits at an impressive 8.6, a figure that even beats the best full‑season numbers recorded under Jürgen Klopp. However, against Fulham the PPDA rose above the season average, suggesting that the squad was not operating at its usual tempo. Despite this, Liverpool leads the league in total sprints and ranks 12th in overall distance covered, underscoring the physical demands of Iraola’s approach.
To manage fatigue, Iraola has begun rotating certain positions. He has experimented with rotating the wingers and giving minutes to midfielders like Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister. Nevertheless, players such as Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz were retained for the Fulham fixture, and neither matched the intensity they displayed three days earlier. Wirtz, in particular, appeared careless with the ball, drawing criticism from supporters who feel the German’s reputation should translate into higher standards.
Yet his work‑rate remains noteworthy; he is second in the league for high‑speed distance covered, which could make him a candidate for Iraola’s "every‑three‑days" list. Iraola admitted that relying on the same eleven every game carries injury risks. "You can field the same players each match, but eventually they will tire and the chance of injury rises," he warned.
With key forward Hugo Ekitike sidelined, Liverpool cannot afford to lose another striker like Alexander Isak to fatigue or injury. Questions also arise about whether Isak’s style fits a high‑press system, and similar doubts linger for some midfield options.
The manager may need to trust experienced players such as Wataru Endo or explore the potential of younger talents like Trey Nyoni to share the load. Ultimately, Iraola emphasised that this period is a learning process.
He is navigating uncharted territory, trying to balance a demanding pressing philosophy with the practical realities of a congested fixture list. The central challenge remains: can Liverpool sustain a three‑games‑a‑week rhythm without compromising performance or risking player health?
The answer will shape the club’s season and determine whether Iraola’s pressing blueprint can truly take root at Anfield.