Forwards must help the midfield
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola wants his forward players to defend from the front. This comes after his midfield faced heavy criticism following a disappointing 0-0 draw against Fulham on Saturday at Anfield.
Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch both struggled during the match. The midfield duo won only three of their 14 duels combined, leading to them being singled out for their lacklustre performances.
However, Iraola believes the responsibility does not fall solely on the midfield. He wants his attackers to win the ball back early to protect the defense.
Collective effort needed
Iraola explained that defending is a team effort. He wants his players to win the ball back as high up the pitch as possible to make attacking easier.
The Liverpool boss said, "If the players ahead of you are doing the job then midfielders look better." He added that when the team plays well together, the midfielders look much smarter and find better positions.
Without this help from the front, Iraola warned that both the midfield and the defenders will continue to struggle. He wants his team to be more aggressive collectively.
Squad rotation for cup clash
Liverpool will face Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday night in the third round of the Carabao Cup. This match will be their third game in just seven days.
Tottenham are managed by Roberto De Zerbi. Because of the busy schedule, Iraola confirmed he will use his full squad for the cup tie.
The manager stated he is happy with his squad and values his players a lot. He is looking forward to giving opportunities to players who have not had much playing time yet to see what they can do.
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