Andoni Iraola has been candid about the challenges his pressing philosophy presents for Liverpool’s squad. He noted that some players can handle a match every two or three days without a dip in form, while others struggle and see their performances suffer. "We need to identify who can cope with a tight schedule and who needs more rest to maintain their level," he said, adding that the club is still learning which individuals fit each category, especially those who have not experienced such a congested calendar before. Iraola’s observations were put to the test on a Saturday at Anfield when Liverpool drew with Fulham, a side that had lost its first three league games.
The mid‑week Champions League clash against Atlético Madrid in Europe seemed to have taken its toll. After the match, the manager did not mince words: "We clearly lacked freshness.
It shows," he explained, describing the situation as the "worst turnaround" allowed under Premier League scheduling rules. He admitted that Liverpool will have to adapt, because such tight turnarounds will become a regular feature of the season. A quick glance at Liverpool’s upcoming fixtures underlines the intensity of the schedule.
Following the international break, the Reds host Manchester City, 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 calendar continues with a home showdown against Arsenal, a mid‑week trip to Fenerbahçe, and an away game at Crystal Palace. November brings a visit to Club Brugge sandwiched between matches with Manchester United and Everton.
This relentless rhythm is the reality for any top‑flight side, and for Iraola it represents a major test: can his players sustain the high‑press, high‑intensity style he favours while coping with such frequent games? During pre‑season, Iraola already hinted that his approach would demand a slight shift in player behaviour, especially when out of possession. He told his squad that the new system would ask them to do things "a little bit different" and that the team was working hard to make it work. Alexander Isak echoed that sentiment after a friendly against Monaco, saying, "We are all putting in the effort to get this right." The Fulham game was the first real examination of how the two worlds – a demanding Champions League night and a quick‑turnaround Premier League fixture – would collide.
Liverpool had to recover from a deficit to win in Europe, then immediately needed to impose a high‑press tempo against Fulham. Iraola was quick to pinpoint the problem in the post‑match press conference, noting that the team arrived late to the press zones in the first half. Although tactical tweaks were made at halftime, the issue persisted. Liverpool’s tendency to split into a deep‑lying defense while the forwards press high has been a hallmark of the Klopp era, and it resurfaced against Fulham.
At moments, players like Josh King found surprising pockets of space as the back line retreated, allowing Fulham’s goalkeeper Bernd Leno to play an easy ball out and relieve pressure on the visitors. While not ideal, Iraola is unlikely to abandon his pressing philosophy altogether.
Statistically, Liverpool’s Pressing‑Points‑per‑Defensive‑Action (PPDA) sits at an impressive 8.6 this season – lower than any full‑season figure recorded under Jurgen Klopp. Against Fulham the number rose slightly, suggesting the team was a touch slower than usual, yet they still lead the league in total sprints and rank 12th in overall distance covered. The data confirms that Liverpool are running more, sprinting more, and pressing more than most of their rivals, which was precisely the reason Iraola was appointed: to revive this brand of energetic football. To keep the intensity sustainable, Iraola has begun rotating his personnel.
He has experimented with rotating wingers and midfielders such as Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister. However, he also kept Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz in the lineup against Fulham, and both fell short of the levels they displayed just three days earlier. Wirtz, in particular, appeared sloppy on the ball, prompting some fans to question whether his reputation can justify continued excuses. Yet his work‑rate remains a bright spot; he ranks second in the league for high‑speed distance covered, indicating he could be one of the players Iraola refers to when he talks about those capable of playing every three days.
Iraola acknowledged that relying on the same eleven week after week carries the risk of fatigue and injury. "You can field the same players every match, but eventually they will tire, and the injury risk rises," he conceded.
With Hugo Ekitike sidelined, Liverpool cannot afford to lose a key striker like Isak to exhaustion. Questions also linger about whether Isak’s style suits a pressing system, and similar doubts apply to some of Iraola’s midfield options.
The manager may need to lean on experienced figures such as Wataru Endo or give a chance to younger talent like Trey Nyoni to balance the workload. In summary, Iraola’s tenure at Liverpool is still in its infancy, and the learning curve is steep. The central challenge remains: how to maintain a relentless pressing identity while navigating three‑game weeks and the inevitable fatigue that follows. As the season progresses, the answers will emerge through rotation, tactical tweaks, and perhaps a bit of squad depth.
The Liverpool faithful will be watching closely to see whether Iraola can blend his high‑press blueprint with the practical demands of a crowded fixture list, ultimately deciding if his approach can deliver the sustained success the club desires.