Liverpool concludes pre-season with victory
Liverpool secured a 2-0 victory over Como 1907 at Anfield in a pre-season friendly. The match marked the conclusion of the club’s 2026-27 pre-season schedule. Goals from Cody Gakpo and debutant Jeremy Jacquet in the first half sealed the win for the Reds.
This fixture was the second encounter between the two clubs on the same day, with an earlier game at the AXA Training Centre ending goalless. Head coach Andoni Iraola expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, particularly highlighting the clean sheet and the win as important feelings to build upon before the start of the season.
Iraola noted that while the first half of the game was stronger than the second, the team maintained organisation and composure to secure the result. He emphasised the importance of finishing the pre-season with a positive outcome, stating that the feeling of winning and keeping a clean sheet was much needed.
Individual performances and physical condition
The head coach specifically praised the performances of new players Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo. Both players made their first appearances for the club, with Iraola stating that Jacquet played “really well” and Araujo also performed strongly after coming on. He also highlighted Jeremie Frimpong’s contribution, who played the full 90 minutes at right-back, assisting offensively and defending his side effectively.
Regarding the physical condition of the squad, Iraola indicated an improvement from the previous week. He expressed hope that the team would continue to get fitter in the coming week. He observed that many players completed 90 minutes or 80 minutes in the match without apparent cramps or major issues, suggesting progress in building fitness levels. The coach acknowledged that first-half performances are currently stronger than second-half displays, but noted the team’s mental focus even when not at peak freshness.
Iraola mentioned that the team needs to continue developing their fitness and the mentality to maintain focus and avoid significant errors, especially in the second half of games. He views the current state as an improvement but acknowledges that further work is required.
Preparation for the Premier League opener
With the Premier League opener against Newcastle United approaching, Iraola outlined his plans for the week ahead. He mentioned that the team has two or three full weeks for training, which he believes is crucial for building team cohesion and understanding his methods.
The coach stressed the importance of training together to build relationships among players, particularly those who have recently joined or started playing. He aims for players to develop the ability to solve problems on the pitch independently and to analyse areas for improvement, especially concerning second-half performances. Iraola believes that this dedicated training period will ensure the team is ready for the league campaign.
Iraola expressed satisfaction with the players’ attitude and commitment, noting that they are training effectively. He acknowledged that he is asking them to adapt to different approaches, particularly in defensive aspects, and believes they are making efforts to understand these new methods. While acknowledging that the team is not yet “perfect” and has areas to improve, he is content with their willingness to align with his vision. The team is also preparing for a match against Ipswich, which is scheduled for a Friday.
In other club news, reports have emerged concerning FSG sanctioning a partial sale of Liverpool FC. A consortium led by businessman Amit Bhatia, which reportedly includes Jeff Bezos and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin, is said to be involved in the potential acquisition.
Source: liverpoolfc.com
