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

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.

Liverpool

Keep the comments on squad rotation coming, as we get the first comments in from Andoni Iraola's news conference.

Speaking on this very subject, the Liverpool boss said: "There are players who play every three days with no issues. 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"

Full quotes to follow.

Liverpool

Image source, Getty Images

Andoni Iraola has a dilemma on his hands.

In the early rounds of the EFL Cup, Premier League teams are often drawn against lower league opposition and are more inclined to give fringe players or academy graduates some valuable gametime.

Liverpool were instead drawn against Tottenham, and although the Lilywhites are having a tough start to the season, squad rotation is still much more of a risk against a fellow Premier League side.

There could also be an argument that Liverpool should play a strong team to try and bounce back from Saturday's frustrating draw - or should squad rotation be prioritised given the hectic schedule ahead?

Let us know what kind of team you want to see Iraola start on Tuesday but using the 'Get involved' button.

Liverpool

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Liverpool are the most successful team in the history of the League Cup with 10 victories to their name.

The Reds first lifted the trophy in 1980-81, the first of four consecutive victories in the competition on a run which finished in 1984.

The Merseyside club had to wait over a decade to life the trophy for a fifth time, thanks to Steve McManaman's brace against Bolton at Wembley in 1995.

It wasn't until the new millennium that the cup returned to Anfield again, clinching the title in 2001 under the guidance of Gerard Houllier. Their seventh triumph came just two years later, again under Houllier, when they beat fierce rivals Manchester United in the final.

In 2012, during his second spell in charge of the club, Kenny Dalglish lifted the club's next title when they overcame Cardiff City in the penalty shootout.

The Liverppool faithful had another long wait they reclaimed the title, doing so in 2022 after an exraordinary 11-10 penalty shootout victory over Chelsea under the guidance of Jurgen Klopp.

Klopp the 10th and so far final League Cup trophy to Liverpool's cabinet in 2024 when they beat Chelsea once again in the final.

Can Andoni Iraola take Liverpool to number 11?

Aadam Patel
Football Reporter at Anfield

Two Premier League matches at Anfield. Two draws.

For just the third time in 63 years, Liverpool have failed to win either of their opening home games of a league season - not exactly the flying start new boss Andoni Iraola would have been dreaming of.

After such an encouraging midweek performance against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, full of urgency, Saturday's goalless draw against Fulham was a flat follow-up, especially with the Cottagers lacking in confidence and having conceded seven goals in their first three league games.

The Reds looked physically and mentally tired and, to put it bluntly, like an entirely different team to the one that won against a Diego Simeone side that made it to the Champions League semi-finals last season.

On the first real look at how Iraola's style will cope with two games a week, this was certainly not what the Liverpool head coach, nor the Anfield crowd, would have wanted to see.

His side are still unbeaten and it is hardly a crisis, but he will look at a return of six points from their first four Premier League games as disappointing, particularly by dropping four points at home to Nottingham Forest and Fulham, with another draw coming at Newcastle and their sole success at Ipswich.

The £364m attacking trio of Alexander Isak, Bradley Barcola and Florian Wirtz started together for the first time in a league game and although Liverpool had decent chances, they created nowhere near enough.

Isak's 16 touches in 90 minutes was the second fewest for an outfield Reds player on record, having had the fewest (14) against Forest a fortnight ago.

German Wirtz looked a shadow of the player who was terrific in midweek against Atleti and while Barcola and Isak had a few encouraging moments, that is a partnership that will take time to develop.

It is still early, but already there is a realisation from Iraola and his players that when they have such short turnarounds between games, perhaps it is a case of adapting and finding ways to get a result.

With at least seven more Champions League games to follow and a Carabao Cup tie at home to Tottenham on Tuesday, Liverpool must adapt sooner rather than later as the fixture list cranks up if they are to show they can challenge for honours this season.

Image source, Getty Images

Aadam Patel
Football Reporter at Anfield

Image source, Getty Images

Fulham and boss Alvaro Arbeloa claimed their first Premier League point of the season with a goalless draw at Liverpool.

Less than 72 hours after the Reds beat Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, Andoni Iraola's side lacked the intensity and urgency they showed on Wednesday night as they failed to score for the first time this term.

Arbeloa came into this game under pressure, with Fulham having lost each of their first three league games since he took charge in the summer. But his side put in a solid away performance and could have taken all three points if they were more ruthless in the final third.

Iraola made three Liverpool changes with Kostas Tsimikas, Ryan Gravenberch and Victor Munoz coming in for Milos Kerkez, Alexis Mac Allister and Rio Ngumoha.

Arbeloa, who played 98 games for Liverpool between 2007 and 2009, made two changes with Austrian centre-back David Affengruber making his debut in place of Joachim Andersen and Sander Berge replacing Cesar Palacios.

Fulham should have taken the lead early on when Jeremy Jacquet had to clear Gonzalo Garcia's effort off the line after a mix-up between keeper Alisson and Ryan Gravenberch that was entirely Liverpool's own doing.

The visitors were better in the opening half but failed to make it count, with Josh King's effort from inside the box saved by Alisson, before Antonee Robinson headed wide.

Munoz's header was kept out by a strong save from Bernd Leno at the other end, while a Bradley Barcola volley was deflected behind by Timothy Castagne for a corner.

Kerkez came on at the break for Tsimikas, who struggled in the first half and by the hour mark Gravenberch and Munoz were also replaced by Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo as Iraola looked to shift the momentum of the game.

Alexander Isak created an opening but his effort was saved comfortably by Leno, before the Fulham goalkeeper kept out a powerful strike from Dominik Szoboszlai.

The hosts made another double change in the 72nd minute with Ngumoha and Jeremie Frimpong introduced, but it was to no avail.

Isak headed wide from an injury-time corner and Fulham - who created late chances through King and Kevin - held on for a valuable point.

Liverpool

There was plenty to talk about from Sunday's Manchester derby and I think we have just about covered it all.

Let's stay in the North West and head to Liverpool, where the Reds begin their journey in the EFL Cup when they face Tottenham on Tuesday.

Andoni Iraola is about to sit down for his news conference to preview tomorrow's match. He will be looking to get back to winning ways after their disappointing result over the weekend...