Milos Kerkez has hinted that Liverpool must find a compromise because they cannot carry out Andoni Iraola's high-pressing tactics for 90 minutes.
First win and clean sheet for Liverpool
Liverpool picked up their first win of the season by beating Ipswich 2-0 on Friday night. Alexander Isak netted both goals inside the opening 10 minutes, with Cody Gakpo providing both assists in an encouraging performance.
The Reds also managed to claim their first clean sheet of the campaign following consecutive 2-2 draws against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest. There was a debut for £123million signing Bradley Barcola, while fellow new arrivals Victor Munoz, Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo all contributed.
Kerkez on Iraola's demands
It was an important step for Liverpool, who have undergone a turbulent summer since Arne Slot's departure, with sporting director Richard Hughes following FSG chief Michael Edwards out the door on Saturday.
Iraola is known for his high-intensity pressing tactics when his team are out of possession. Kerkez played under the Spaniard at previous club Bournemouth so knows better than most what Iraola demands - and his admission post-match was intriguing.
"When you press like us, it's a bit tough to do it for all the game and all the 90 minutes," he told the club website. "We can do it for the first 30 to 35 minutes and in some ways we can do that in the second half at the beginning – but then it's all about staying compact and talking to each other."
"That's what we said also that we need to improve, and as defenders we are happy with the clean sheet. We defended pretty well their crosses and the set-pieces. Like I said, everyone was 100 per cent focused."
Adaptation and upcoming fixtures
Asked if Iraola's style was coming across now, he replied: "Yes, definitely. I think everyone felt better on the pitch and I think myself also when I look at it I'm getting more into the play and better."
"Obviously it's a clean sheet, particularly away we know it's tough in the Premier League everywhere. We're happy but we can't celebrate too much – now games come every three days and it's onto the next."
Iraola was happy but level-headed in his assessment of the Ipswich win. "We needed this win and as well with the performance – especially [in the] first half we have been a very good team," he said.
"We put a lot of pressure to the opposition and I think we started really strong in the game. I think that we learned, probably, the lessons from the last two games where we conceded early goals and today we didn't want this to happen, and we were really strong in the first half."
"In the second half also, I think in a different way. We controlled the game, we defended well, but we didn't have this threat offensively, probably. But overall, I think it's a game to finish quite pleased [about]."
Liverpool's squad depth, and their understanding of their manager's demands, will be tested as they begin their Champions League campaign against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night at Anfield. They then host Fulham on Saturday in the Premier League before a Carabao Cup tie against Tottenham on September 15.
