Tale of two halves leaves Iraola with plenty to ponder

Manager Andoni Iraola will have much to contemplate on the flight home from Chicago following Liverpool's 4-2 defeat to Leeds, a match that starkly divided the team's performance into two halves. The first 45 minutes showcased arguably the best football since Iraola took charge, but the second half was a categorical collapse, witnessing four goals conceded without reply in just 25 minutes.

Despite making numerous substitutions at halftime, Iraola cannot excuse the manner in which his side capitulated against Daniel Farke's Leeds. The team's lack of squad depth and physical presence was alarmingly apparent. Iraola will undoubtedly be concerned by the ease with which Leeds found the net, especially against a makeshift defense featuring young players like Calvin Ramsay, Ifeanyi Ndukwe, and Mor Talla Ndiaye.

While the return of Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz initially inspired an excellent first-half display, it is crucial not to be overly critical given the context. However, Iraola may ultimately find value in witnessing this second-half performance, which exposed Liverpool's vulnerabilities, particularly their deficiencies in defending set-pieces. "We conceded two goals from set-pieces. We have to fix that and make sure we deal with them better," acknowledged midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai.

The intensity that Iraola demands in training seemed to vanish after the break, with senior players like Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa failing to impress. Iraola had previously expressed frustration over the uncertainty surrounding player transfers in August. The upcoming days will see him meet key players like Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, Alisson Becker, and new signing Victor Munoz. The defeat in Chicago, however, will significantly influence his decisions regarding the squad as the season approaches.

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We conceded two goals from set-pieces. We have to fix that and make sure we deal with them better.