LIVERPOOL LOSE 3-2 TO MONACO IN IRAOLA'S PRE-SEASON TEST

Liverpool lost 3-2 to AS Monaco in a pre-season friendly under new manager Andoni Iraola. Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz scored to give Liverpool a 2-0 lead within 30 minutes. Aleksandr Golovin and Mika Biereth equalised before Paris Brunner scored a late winner for the Ligue 1 side. The result marked the second consecutive match in which Iraola's side surrendered a two-goal advantage.

Iraola replaced Arne Slot at Anfield ahead of the 2026 season following Liverpool's fifth-place league finish. The friendly served as an opportunity for the former Bournemouth manager to assess his squad during pre-season. Multiple substitutions were made throughout the match, a common feature of preparation fixtures. Several Liverpool players are reported to have damaged their claims on first-team selection through their performances, particularly in the second half when the team conceded three goals.

The defeat has drawn attention from supporters on social media regarding specific squad members, with some calling for changes to the squad composition ahead of the upcoming Premier League season. Iraola stated after the match that Liverpool "cannot sustain the level we want", acknowledging the defensive vulnerabilities exposed during the fixture. The manager will continue to use remaining pre-season matches to evaluate personnel before the competitive campaign begins.