IMAGO / GEPA pictures
Oct 13, 2026 4:50 PM
Andoni Iraola has spoken to the media in Austria ahead of his side's clash with LASK in the UEFA Champions League. Here is everything the boss had to say ahead of this European fixture.
Next Up: LASK (Away)
A tricky away trip to Austria awaits Andoni Iraola's side as Liverpool take on LASK in a Champions League clash where both sides need a win.
LASK come into this game in poor form, and after a loss to title rival Rapid Wien over the weekend, they will be looking to put on a strong display against the Reds at home.
As for LFC, they have just come off the back of a 3-0 loss to Premier League leaders Manchester City in a highly emotive game for fans and players alike.
But Andoni Iraola has been speaking to the media this afternoon in the build-up to his first European away game as Liverpool boss, with Milos Kerez the player speaker for this Champions League encounter.
Milos Kerkez on Andoni Iraola
The Hungarian full-back is a player who would have been very familiar with Iraola when he came to the club, and he has gone into detail about his impact on the team since his arrival:
"The style of play right now, we are running a lot, playing more front-footed, the players are buying into his philosophy. There is a still a way to go and a way to improve but I think we are on the right track.I am more settled now. I knew the manager for a long time at Bournemouth.
"I feel a lot more easy. It depends on the game, depends on who we are playing against and who the winger is. He tells me game by game what he wants to do."
IMAGO / GEPA picturesMilos Kerkez on the Physical Demands of The Current Schedule
Many have been discussing whether or not clubs and subsequently players are playing too much football now compared to even just five or ten years, Kerkez was asked about the schedule and stressed the importance of recovery:
"Obviously it's a bit tough. Games are coming quick but we are professionals. We have to take recovery very seriously. We have squad and quality.
"We have young players and it's about recovery. You don't have much time to train. You have to take recovery seriously and go 100% ready for the next game."
Milos Kerkez on his relationship with Bradley Barcola
In the summer, the big money arrival was the signing of PSG winger Bradley Barcola, a deal that was completed in the final days of the window.
Kerkez was asked about how his relationship with Barcola was building since the Frenchman's arrival:
"We have played a few games but we need a bit more time. He is a real talent.
"He showed at PSG he has great skills and can help us a lot. We just have to talk more and build that connection more and it will help us get a better combination down the left.
"When I say talk, us in general need to get to know him better. In training he is really good."
Milos Kerkez on the fitness of Dominik Szoboszlai
And the final question posed to Milos Kerkez was about whether or not his national team compatriot Dominik Szoboszlai would be available for the next league game on Saturday, after it was confirmed he, alongside Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo, did not travel to Austria:
"I don't know if he is fit for Saturday. You'll have to ask the gaffer that. I know Dom and he doesn't like to be out long. Knowing him, he wants to play every game and will want to play Saturday."
IMAGO / Propaganda Photo Andoni Iraola on Injuries
The first thing asked of the boss when he arrived at his delayed press conference, due to a late takeoff from Liverpool, was about injuries, in particular the three new ones picked up during the international break:
"They are not bad but it's difficult to tell right now (when they will be back). We are taking it day to day.Really the three of them, I don't know if it's going to be Brentford or Villarreal."
Andoni Iraola on Wirtz and Barcola
In the absence of Gakpo and Isak in the short term, the likes of Barcola and Wirtz are the players that fans want and expect to see step up for the Reds.
But in the Manchester City game, both played poorly, and Liverpool looked toothless in attack at times.
IMAGO / Propaganda Photo But Iraola has full trust in the big money duo to succeed at Anfield in the coming weeks and months ahead:
"It's true Cody, Alex and Dom are the top scorers in our system. We don't have them, we didn't have them against City and we need those players to give us those numbers.
"We trust the players we have now to play in those positions. Injuries with national teams will happen to all the teams. It's a matter of adapting to circumstances.
"(Wirtz and Barcola) have had good games and bad games like anyone else, and they will give us good games."
Andoni Iraola on Florian Wirtz
A follow-up on that question was more specifically on the criticism of Florian Wirtz and whether he is performing to the level needed at a club like Liverpool:
"When you are in a big club like we are, if you don't have a good performance. He had good performances for the national team. He scored a goal. He will have better and worse games.
"I'd look at it more collectively and how we can play well and get results. It's a more collective thing."
Andoni Iraola on the final half an hour v Man City
After the red card from Ryan Gravenberch, LFC's performance dropped off massively, and it allowed the away side to gain control over the contest, scoring three goals and stunning the Anfield faithful.
IMAGO / Propaganda Photo When questioned about his side's lack of control in the last 30 minutes, this is what Iraola had to say:
"We played well with 11. But they scored straight away when we went down to 10. 0-0 you can defend more compact and lower, but when you start losing. We wanted to go a little bit and we weren't really putting the press on as they always had one more.
"The ones we conceded it wasn't enough just to be compact. It's a game that we need to win and want to start as strong as possibility in this competition. We won the first game and it's always difficult to win in this competition. It's going to be difficult to name the same starting XI tomorrow."
Andoni Iraola on the lack of time on the training pitch
Due to the intense schedule facing top sides across Europe at the moment, the likes of Liverpool are unable to train regularly as they look to prioritise fitness and recovery as the games come thick and fast.
Iraola was asked how he was dealing with the lack of time on the training pitch to implement his ideas and any tweaks he wants to make to his side:
"You don't have a lot of time to train. You try to prepare the games now. Little bit outside but you have to understand the freshness of the players.
"We are playing four games in 10 days. The more Bradley Barcola plays the better his connections will become."
Comment Below: Would You Start Florian Wirtz Against LASK?
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