Liverpool concede 3-2 to Monaco in Iraola’s first loss

Liverpool threw away another pre-season lead as Monaco came from behind to win 3-2 in Andoni Iraola’s first game in charge at Anfield.

Monaco equalised twice in the second half after Mohamed Salah’s early strike and Darwin Núñez’s opener, with Takumi Minamino and Wissam Ben Yedder scoring either side of a late Wataru Endo own goal. The visitors then took the lead in the 77th minute when Takumi Minamino pounced on a defensive error to fire past Alisson Becker.

This is the second consecutive pre-season friendly where Liverpool have squandered a two-goal lead, following a 4-2 loss to Manchester United earlier this month. It raises fresh questions about the team’s defensive organisation and ability to hold onto leads under pressure, even in non-competitive games. Andoni Iraola, appointed head coach after the club’s summer overhaul, now faces an immediate challenge in rallying the squad ahead of the Premier League opener against Brighton on August 17.

The defeat also highlights the ongoing transition under new ownership and sporting leadership. Liverpool have made significant changes in the dugout and on the pitch, but results in these friendlies suggest the squad is still adapting. The game was played behind closed doors, so the intensity wasn’t match-level, but the defensive lapses—especially in the second half—were hard to ignore. With Euro 2024 still fresh in players’ minds and fitness levels fluctuating, these performances are being watched closely. If Liverpool can’t shore up their defensive structure now, the early weeks of the league season could be rocky.