Iraola urges Liverpool to seize early control against Fulham
Andoni Iraola has urged Liverpool to set the tone early against Fulham on Saturday, with the head coach determined to reduce the need for recoveries after an unbeaten but demanding opening to his Anfield tenure.
Liverpool have taken shape as a side capable of scoring regularly under Iraola, registering twice in each of his first four matches. Yet three of those fixtures began with the opposition scoring first, leaving the new manager focused on sharper starts at both ends of the pitch.
Liverpool seek a more commanding opening
- Liverpool drew with Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest after falling behind in both Premier League matches.
- They then produced a more controlled 2-0 win over Ipswich Town last Friday, when Alexander Isak scored both goals inside the first 10 minutes.
- Liverpool also recovered from a deficit to defeat Atlético Madrid 2-1.
- Saturday’s meeting with Fulham offers Iraola’s side another chance to establish an early advantage rather than chase the contest.
Iraola said Liverpool have consistently created opportunities and possess sufficient attacking quality, but believes greater efficiency and stronger defensive concentration can make matches less complicated.
He pointed to the opening moments against Atlético, when Alex Mac Allister had a clear opportunity within roughly 15 seconds. Iraola felt that converting such chances can alter the whole complexion of a game, whereas conceding first forces the team into a far greater physical and mental effort to recover.
“We have been dangerous in every match and have scored two goals each time, but we must become more clinical,” Iraola said. “We also have to avoid the goals we allowed against Newcastle and Forest. Our starts have not been good enough in some games.
“Ipswich showed how much more comfortable a match can become when you begin well. When you are behind, the work needed to turn it around is much greater. We want the right mentality from the first whistle and to impose ourselves earlier.”
Liverpool had not scored before half-time in their first two league outings before the rapid Ipswich start. Iraola added that his side have generally improved after the interval, but wants that level to be present from the opening phase.
Fulham’s results belie their performances, says Iraola
Fulham arrive at Anfield without a Premier League point under former Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa, having lost each of their first three matches. All three defeats have come by a one-goal margin, however, and Iraola warned against judging their season too quickly.
“Three league games are not enough to reach major conclusions about any team,” he said. “Fulham have performed well. They have lost all three by one goal, but if you looked at many of their statistics without seeing their points total, you might expect them to have around five points because they have controlled games.”
Former Spain colleagues meet on the touchline
The fixture will also reunite Iraola and Arbeloa, who were Spain internationals at the same time and competed for a similar role in the squad.
Iraola said the pair did not play alongside one another often for the national team, while conceding that Arbeloa had the stronger international record. “We were competing for more or less the same position, and he was the more successful one because he played more matches than I did,” Iraola said.
