Liverpool Head Coach Andoni Iraola spoke to the press this afternoon to preview Liverpool's clash against Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday (12:30 PM BST). The Boss answered multiple questions and discussed Liverpool's transfer business so far this summer...
Next Up: Nottingham Forest at Anfield
Following a 2-2 draw against Newcastle United at St James' Park in their Premier League opener, Liverpool face Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday (12:30 PM BST Kick-off). Before the game, Andoni Iraola faced the media in his pre-match press conference and discussed multiple topics, including the impending transfer of Bradley Barcola.
![Cody Gakpo scores against Newcastle with a long-range strike [Action Images / Reuters]](https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/a116b31c-1dd5-4ab9-99fb-f7f9a46eae70.jpeg)
Cody Gakpo scores against Newcastle with a long-range strike [Action Images / Reuters]On Bradley Barcola's Transfer and Cody Gakpo's Future
The press conference began with a question about the impending transfer of Bradley Barcola to Liverpool.
Iraola said:
"We cannot talk about players who right now are not ours, but it is evident we are trying to improve that position because we don't have numbers in that position. I hope we can have good news soon, but we are still not there."
He also elaborated on Cody Gakpo's future:
He's playing very well for us. He's been very good since he came back from the World Cup; [he has a] very good attitude, and I hope we can keep him at that level because he has been very influential in our games.
Asked directly if Gakpo will leave, he replied: "The market is open...you cannot guarantee anything with anyone".
On Finding Tactical Balance Post Newcastle
Speaking about finding the right balance for the team, Iraola explained how:
"We cannot go from one way, where we send a lot of people forward, to another where we keep everyone [back], and everything looks very stale. It is a matter of identifying the situation".
He added:
"Players who are very good smell that [there is] real danger, that they have to stay; this is [on] the quality of the player who takes those decisions."
"There is a balance there, I don't want to tell Ryan Gravenberch, don't carry the ball, don't arrive to the box...sometimes you have to accept [the risk]".
On improving his team's control of the game:
"I think we had meaningful possession, I felt like we were quite direct in our attack, stayed very far [forward], and I felt during the game we were closer to scoring than Newcastle were."
On Transfers
Asked about his confidence in securing further transfers beyond Barcola, the Head Coach said:
"I don't know what will happen, we have to be patient. I'll be comfortable on the 1st of September when they tell me 'these are the options we have'...right now we don't know".
Later, he spoke about other areas of the squad, beyond the wing positions, that he may want to strengthen through the transfer market:
"There are certain things you know you can do; you don't know if you can do, but it is true that the priority has been strengthening in the wide areas. Still, we have four or five days; I'm sure if we can improve other areas, we will. But I don't know how the market will finish...I have to be patient, the same as you; believe me, it is very uncomfortable for me [as well]. In four or five days, we will know what we have".
Asked at the end of the press conference whether he would be satisfied with the squad depth if Liverpool only signed Bradley Barcola, he said:
It will depend on the rest of the positions, on what we sign, on who's leaving; you have to be looking at the bigger picture. We know from the beginning our demands...it's the wingers and then tricky situations with the players with long-term injuries; they have been our main issues. But if we can improve in other areas also, we will.
On Leading The Reds Out for The First Time at Anfield in The Premier League
It is definitely a special moment for me to play [my] first Premier League game at Anfield. I already felt it in pre-season; I will be thinking on the game, but it will be emotional...I had to fight a lot to get to this place, and I hope we can enjoy the game.
On What He Expects From an Oliver Glasner Forest Side
"He [Glasner] has been very successful...you can see straight away the shape, they don't concede lots of chances, we will have to earn every chance, they don't give you anything for free because they are very solid", he added, "we have to control those situations, especially in the transitions, because they have good threats on the counter."
On Federico Chiesa's Injury and Harvey Elliott's Future
"[There] are different circumstances. Fede is not available, he felt against Como something in the back, it's a small muscle injury [so] he's not available."
The Coach was extremely honest about the situation surrounding Harvey Elliot and other fringe players:
"With Harvey, with Chambers, with some of the players I leave out because I can only choose twenty, it is a matter of finding a balance on the bench. In Harvey's case, he's trying...but still, I prefer other options. It's another new week, new chances for everyone; they need to keep on that mentality."
On if He Is Surprised by Reactions to The Performance Against Newcastle
"I'm not surprised; I expected when I came here that everything is going to be magnified for the good and for the bad. I am starting to understand...but it's just one game where I think we did a lot of good things; even those players in the midfield did very good things, [but] there are definitely things we need to improve. But I have no doubt they [Liverpool's players] are all top players."
"When you concede two goals because of the transition, it is normal, and I understand that we have to talk about the defensive transitions. [But] I think we improved during the game, even in that aspect".
