Liverpool suffered another damaging pre-season defeat after Monaco came from two goals behind to win 3-2 at Anfield, repeating the late collapse seen in their recent loss to Leeds United and underlining the scale of the rebuilding task facing new manager Iraola following Mohamed Salah’s departure.
The hosts made the stronger start and appeared to be in complete control during the opening stages. Alexander Isak broke the deadlock in the 15th minute, sending a powerful low effort across goal after a flowing team move.
Florian Wirtz then doubled Liverpool’s advantage before the half-hour mark. The Germany international reacted quickest during a scramble inside the six-yard box to put the home side 2-0 ahead and seemingly in command.
However, Liverpool’s defensive problems returned before half-time. With only a minute remaining in the opening period, Aleksandr Golovin reduced the deficit from the penalty spot.
Alisson read the direction of the kick correctly but was unable to keep out Golovin’s fierce strike, which flew into the top corner. Liverpool went into the interval leading 2-1, but the momentum had already begun to shift.
Monaco completed the turnaround 10 minutes after the restart. Giorgi Mamardashvili saved the French side’s first attempt, but the rebound fell kindly for Peres, who reacted quickly to beat the Brazilian goalkeeper and level the score.
The visitors then completed their comeback from a corner. Brunner attacked the delivery at the near post and found a way through the Liverpool defence with alarming ease, giving Monaco a 3-2 lead and completing another collapse at Anfield.
The result represents a further setback for Iraola’s project, which remains in its early stages after a summer of major change. Liverpool have lost Mohamed Salah, regarded as one of the club’s modern legends, while also appointing a new coaching staff.
The defeat follows Liverpool’s earlier pre-season victories over Sunderland and Wrexham, but the manner of the losses to Leeds United and Monaco will raise more concern than the results alone.
Against both opponents, Liverpool established a two-goal advantage before conceding three times. Their inability to protect a commanding position has now become an increasingly troubling feature of their preparations for the new season.
The Monaco match offered Liverpool a promising opening, with Isak and Wirtz combining to give the side a comfortable lead. Yet the defensive uncertainty that surfaced before the interval ultimately overshadowed that positive start.
Iraola now faces the challenge of addressing those weaknesses while integrating the changes made during the summer. With Mohamed Salah no longer part of the squad and the coaching structure also altered, the Monaco defeat provided another warning of the difficulty involved in reshaping Liverpool.
