Liverpool 2-3 Monaco: Iraola's First Home Game Ends in Defeat
SportFootballLiverpool FCLIVEUpdated 12 mins agoLive coverage of Liverpool’s pre-season friendly with Monaco at Anfield as new head coach Andoni Iraola takes charge of a home game for the first time. It’s Liverpool versus Monaco at Anfield today. Liverpool have let a two-goal slip for the second friendly running. The Reds went down 3-2 to Monaco at Anfield after a smart 16th-minute finish from Alexander Isak and a 29th-minute tap-in from Florian Wirtz were cancelled out and then overturned.
Minuto a minuto
Today 16:40 BST: Player ratings as Ifeanyi Ndukwe and one other 8/10 in Monaco loss
Another game of two halves from Liverpool. Inevitably, there is quite the contrast in Ian Doyle's player ratings as a result!
Alisson Becker 7: Early saves from Biereth and Abline in otherwise quiet first half until beaten by Golovin penalty.
Jeremie Frimpong 6: Appeared to spend as little time as possible at right-back and must have been under instruction to move into central midfield whenever possible, which wasn’t always the wisest move.
Ifeanyi Ndukwe 8: Impressed with his dominance in the air and overall composure, and earned applause from Van Dijk with one neat piece of skill.
Virgil van Dijk 6: Asserted authority early on with some front-footed defending before easing himself back on his first pre-season outing. Blotted his copybook by fouling Golovin for penalty, though.
Kostas Tsimikas 6: His first Anfield appearance in more than a year, the ring-rust is clearly still evident after a season of frustration on loan at Roma. Close with one long-distance drive.
Today 16:21 BST: Full time Full time: Liverpool 2-3 Monaco. For a second successive pre-season friendly, Liverpool throw away a two-goal lead and end up beaten. Results are easy to swat aside at this time of year but defensive depth is a must now.
Today 16:17 BST: 3-2! Paris Brunner heads home at the near post from a corner and defensive frailties have cost Liverpool again in pre-season. Monaco lead 3-2 now late on.
Today 16:04 BST: Subs Ramsay, Chiesa and Elliott are all coming on. Off go Koumas, Szoboszlai and Frimpong.
Today 15:51 BST: Ngumoha on the right Rio Ngumoha has started off the right side here following his introduction. There's a real hush of expectancy whenever he gets possession and he's just played a nice pass into McConnell, whose cross was cut out.
Today 15:48 BST: Subs ahoy Here come the subs: Munoz, Nyoni, Kerkez, Ngumoha, Chambers and McConnell all on. Isak, Van Dijk, Wirtz, Gakpo, Gravenberch and Tsimikas make way.
Today 15:45 BST: Monaco are level 2-2! Monaco are level. Biereth sticks it home at the second time of asking.
Today 15:40 BST: Isak has a brace Just seen a replay of Liverpool's second goal. Looks like Alexander Isak has a brace! He's on the ground but gets his foot to it before Florian Wirtz.
Today 15:40 BST: Half-time subs We’re back underway and Liverpool have made two changes at the break. Wataru Endo is on at centre-back in place of Ifeanyi Ndukwe, while Giorgi Mamardashvili replaces Alisson Becker.
Today 15:19 BST: Half-time ratings Alisson Becker 7: Early saves from Biereth and Abline in otherwise quiet first half until beaten by Golovin penalty. Jeremie Frimpong 6: Appeared to spend as little time as possible at right-back and must have been under instruction to move into central midfield whenever possible, which wasn’t always the wisest move. Ifeanye Ndukwe 8: Impressed with his dominance in the air and overall composure, and earned applause from Van Dijk with one neat piece of skill. Virgil van Dijk 6: Asserted his authority early on with some front-footed defending before easing himself back on his first pre-season outing. Blotted his copybook by fouling Golovin for penalty, though. Kostas Tsimikas 6: His first Anfield appearance in more than a year, the ring-rust is clearly still evident after a season of frustration on loan at Roma. Close with one long-distance drive. Dominik Szoboszlai 6: Involved in the build-up for the opener but steady rather than spectacular in one of the two central midfield roles. Ryan Gravenberch 8: While ostensibly the deepest midfielder, was free to push forward when in possession which created the first goal. Good physicality and engine. Lewis Koumas 7: Work ethic and pace made him an instant favourite with the crowd, and fired in a number of shots before cross helped spark the second. Florian Wirtz 7: Not every probing pass found its mark, but that he was so often in such positions as the number 10 will have enthused Iraola. Forced one good save from Monaco goalkeeper Hradecky and prodded in the second. Cody Gakpo 7: Much more like the player of the title-winning campaign, header helped