Liverpool

Let's have a recap of what Andoni Iraola has covered in his news conference:

• Giorgi Mamardashvili will start in goal for Liverpool on Tuesday, and Iraola admitted to trying to sign him when he managed Bournemouth.
• Iraola believes Joe Gomez is ready to play against Tottenham and it's a matter of deciding how many minutes he can play.
• Iraola has spoke to Virgil van Dijk and Netherlands boss Xavi about the defender's future for the National team, but he was reluctant to give any details.
• Conor Bradley is touching a football again as he recovers from inury - but Giovanni Leoni is expected to return sooner than the full-back.

His Liverpool side will face Spurs at Anfield on Tuesday, 20:00 BST.

Aadam Patel
Football Reporter

You get the feeling that the schedule and length of turnaround between fixtures will be a common topic of conversation with Andoni Iraola.

Liverpool were brilliant last Wednesday against Atletico Madrid but followed that up with a poor display against Fulham, less than 72 hours later.

Iraola pointed out the lack of freshness on Saturday as a factor and now just over 72 hours after that game, Liverpool will play at Anfield for the third time in less than a week.

As Iraola indicated, expect to see a heavily-changed Liverpool line up that will see Giorgi Mamardashvili in net and a chance for fans to “see some players we haven’t seen yet” and for Iraola to “see whether they can help us”.

Iraola insists he is “very happy” with his squad and a cup game against Premier League opposition tomorrow will provide a strong indication about how reliable his squad options really are.

That's everything from Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola.

He was asked plenty of questions about squad rotation ahead of a busy schedule for the rest of the year. He also gave a few hints as to who may be involved for Tuesday's match at Anfield.

Let's get back to some of your comments about tomorrow's team...

Liverpool

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola, asked about the importance of the EFL Cup:

"It's not about ranking. The competition is a different competition. I'm sure if you ask probably, you'd prefer to win the Champions League game or a Premier League game, but there is no guarantee that if you rotate or rest, that you are going to win the next one.

"We want to win the game, we want to play well. That's what we're going to try to do tomorrow."

Liverpool

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Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola, asked whether he has had ample opportunity to work with and learn about his players amid a busy schedule:

"I have. If you ask me how new players, for instance Jeremy Jacquet, are going to deal with playing every three days for two months, I don't know because he hasn't done it.

"We have some other players, experienced, have done it, I know they can do it. Virgil [van Dijk] can do it, because he has done it before, they have the experience, he has performed, his performance isn't so affected.

"With the younger ones and those coming from abroad, there are some question marks, for them and for me and everyone. We will have to study it case by case."

Liverpool

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola, asked how workload will affect team selection:

"I think it has to affect, definitely.

"It's the third game, what's the scenario? Game, two days [rest], game, two days [rest], game. In terms of the schedule we haven't been lucky, because it's true that after this one we have a little bit more before we play Bournemouth. Also we had a little bit more between Ipswich and Atletico, you notice, when it's five days in comparison to two or three days.

"It's a big difference, but it is what it is. After the international break we have this period where we are playing four games in nine or ten games. We have to get used to this."

Liverpool

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Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola, asked whether the issue he identified with duels can be fixed through coaching, since it has been a long-term issue in the squad:

"Yes, I said and accepted and agree with what [the reporter who raised the issue] said. But it's not a matter of just the midfielders.

"For me, it's something more collective than just the midfielders. When we've been good collectively, the midfielders have looked a lot better, won more duels and recovered more balls, but it's not because they have played better today. It's because we are helping them more to win the duels.

"It's like the defenders. If the ones upfront do their job very well, the defenders look very good because all the balls that arrive, they arrive not clean. If we are allowing them to defend one v one all the time, be comfortable on the ball, not being aggressive - the defenders will struggle. The players in front of you are doing their job, the defenders and midfielders will win more duels because they are easier duels. The ball arrives not in the best condition and then you have more chances to win duels.

"It's much more collective than just because, 'if I change this for this because this one wins duels...' No. There's something more collective happening. That's the help we have to give to our defenders and midfielders.

"When the team plays well, everyone looks better. The key is that we all play collectively well. Everyone looks smarter, better, in better position. That's from the collective side, for me."

Liverpool

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola, asked about his players' duels and ball recovery numbers against Fulham:

"Comparing to previous games, we won the ball a lot lower on the pitch. We didn't concede a lot, the only chance we conceded was the goal kick that we messed up after we defended well but we recovered the ball always very low. When this happens you have to attack always against 11 players, and it is more difficult to make a difference.

"In previous games, we were able to win it a lot higher, then use our quick transitions to attack against fewer players, use the space better. This is key in our system, to recover the ball as high as possible because it makes the offensive side a lot easier. Situations to attack in one v ones, or against fewer, are less than if you recover in your half of the pitch."

Liverpool

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola, asked whether the draw against Fulham was the biggest learning curve of his Reds tenure so far: "Probably most frustrated I've been, yes. The precedents were very good, it was in a week when we'd won two games and we wanted to continue that line with the third win.

"It'd be a push, moving forward. And it was a step backwards. We were not good enough, especially offensively. It was frustrating, yes."

Liverpool

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola, asked whether patience is required: "I understand the frustration the other day because we were also frustrated. We came from two good games, it's a step forward Ipswich, it's a step forward Atletico, we wanted more steps forward.

"And then, we step backward. The performance level is not like the two other games. But this happens in football.

"We have to accept it in terms of there are going to be up and downs in this process.

"But we are clear that where we want to go is more toward where we've been, Atletico, Ipswich, that's the kind of football that we want.

"The key now is the consistency to perform like this."

Liverpool

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Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola, asked whether he will switch goalkeepers against Spurs: "Yes."

Asked to review Liverpool's goalkeeping department: "I think there are few doubts with Alisson, he's playing very well. I rate Giorgi [Mamardashvili] very highly, I know him from Spain. We tried to sign him for Bournemouth before I came here. For me, he's a very good keeper and he's going to start tomorrow."

Liverpool

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola, asked about Conor Bradley's recovery from injury: "I think that he is not close to training with the team. He is training alone but he has started touching the ball. I want him as quickly as possible.

"With these long term injuries, I think [Giovanni] Leoni is a little ahead of him. It is still going to take some time for Conor."

Liverpool

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola was asked about rumours that Virgil van Dijk has met with Netherlands boss Xavi about the future of his international career: "I have talked to Xavi and Virgil but they are private conversations. It is definitely not something that I can say.

"I know Xavi very well. He watched our game against Atletico Madrid. We have been talking, yes."

Liverpool

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Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola, asked whether it is possible to go as strong as he'd like in the Carabao Cup: "No. You can decide and put the same players in every game. The problem is there'll be a moment when they're really tired. And there is more risk of injury.

"But that's why we cannot say it doesn't work for anyone. There are players who play every three days with no issues. They are very robust, their performances don't change too much.

"There are other players where the risk is bigger and the performances are different. I have to learn who is ready to play games every three days and who needs a rest so their performance level isn't affected.

"I thought I had it quite clear in my mind with some, but with others, it's new, even for them, because they haven't played as many games. We are learning."

Liverpool

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola, asked whether his squad is big enough: "I'm very happy with the squad. I value a lot my players, if we win games, the squad will look amazing and fantastic, if we don't there's going to be a problem with the depth... whatever.

"I think we will see also tomorrow players we haven't seen still and I am really looking forward to seeing. I feel they're going to play well and help us and they still haven't had their chance."

Liverpool

Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola has also confirmed that Joe Gomez is training with the team and should be available for Tuesday's match.

"It's a matter of deciding how much he can play or what the best thing to do is." He added.

Liverpool

Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola has given his first hint on how his side will line up against Tottenham tomorrow as he confirms that he will "change" his goalkeeper and Giorgi Mamardashvili will start in goal.

Full quotes to follow.