Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has admitted his squad is not yet ready to maintain the intensity he demands for a full 90 minutes after the Reds suffered another painful pre-season collapse against Monaco.
The Reds appeared firmly in control at Anfield after Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz put the hosts 2-0 ahead before the break.
But the advantage disappeared after half-time as Monaco turned the game around, with Paris Brunner scoring a late header to complete a 3-2 comeback and hand Iraola his first defeat at Anfield.
For the Liverpool boss, the result highlighted a clear pre-season problem: his players currently have the energy to produce high-level football in spells, but not yet for an entire match.
The defeat was particularly concerning because Liverpool have now surrendered two-goal advantages in consecutive pre-season matches.
Against Monaco, the Reds produced an impressive opening 30 minutes before their intensity dropped significantly after the interval.
Iraola believes Monaco deserved credit for taking advantage of that decline.
“I think we played really good [in the] first half, especially the first 30 minutes, but right now probably we don’t have much more in terms of the level required to play like this. Then they were much better in the second half,” Iraola said.
“In the same way we were better in the first half they were much better in the second half, and they deserved to turn around the game, yes.”
The assessment is a reminder that Liverpool are still very much in preparation mode.
With several senior players only recently returning to pre-season action, Iraola is attempting to balance performance levels with the need to gradually build fitness.
A number of Liverpool’s experienced players made their first or second pre-season appearances against Monaco.
While Iraola was encouraged by their early energy, he acknowledged that the squad is still some distance away from being able to maintain those levels throughout a competitive match.
“I think they were in different levels but mostly they were in a good place. I think the ones that it was their first game, or even the ones that it was their second game, they had energy.
“The problem is right now probably they don’t have the energy for 90 minutes and they start to get tired. It will take time with them, we need more training with them.”
That fitness gap is likely to become one of Iraola’s biggest priorities before Liverpool’s competitive campaign begins.
The manager has already introduced new methods and demands, meaning the players need time to adapt physically as well as tactically.
Liverpool’s pre-season preparations have also been complicated by a series of injuries, particularly in defence.
Joe Gomez, Giovanni Leoni and new signing Jeremy Jacquet have all suffered injury setbacks, while Curtis Jones missed the Monaco clash with what Iraola described as “hip issues.”
The defensive situation could therefore force Liverpool to explore the transfer market before the window closes.
Reports indicate that Barcelona captain Ronald Araujo is expected to join Liverpool on loan, potentially giving Iraola another experienced option at the back.
The proposed deal reportedly includes an option to make the move permanent for €55 million (£47m / $64m).
Araujo is primarily a centre-back but can also operate at right-back, making his versatility particularly valuable to a Liverpool side dealing with defensive absences.
There was still plenty for Liverpool to take from the Monaco encounter.
Isak opened his account for the club in pre-season, while Wirtz also found the net as both players continue their attempts to make a stronger impact after difficult debut seasons at Anfield.
Their goals provided a glimpse of the attacking quality available to Iraola, even though Liverpool ultimately failed to protect their advantage.
The challenge now is turning those promising attacking moments into performances that can be sustained across an entire match.
Liverpool have one final pre-season fixture against Como before their preparations come to an end.
That match will provide Iraola with another opportunity to increase his players’ minutes and assess their physical condition before the real competition begins.
The Reds then face Newcastle in their opening Premier League fixture on August 23. By then, the fitness excuse will disappear.
Iraola knows his Liverpool side must be capable of maintaining their intensity from the first whistle to the last.
The Monaco defeat may have exposed a weakness, but there is still time to fix it.
The message from the new boss is simple: Liverpool need more training, more energy and, above all, the fitness to finish what they start.
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