Home FootballLiverpool 2-3 Monaco: Reds Blow Two-Goal Lead in Iraola’s Anfield Debut

Liverpool 2-3 Monaco: Reds Blow Two-Goal Lead in Iraola’s Anfield Debut

Aug 10, 2026 10:07 AM GMT+00:00

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Liverpool 2-3 Monaco: Reds Blow Two-Goal Lead in Iraola’s Anfield Debut

Liverpool's preparations for the 2026/27 season suffered another setback on Sunday as Monaco fought back from two goals down to secure a 3-2 victory at Anfield.

The Reds looked firmly in control after Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz gave them a 2-0 lead during an impressive first half. However, Monaco responded after the break, with Aleksandr Golovin, Mika Biereth and Paris Brunner completing a dramatic comeback.

The defeat was particularly concerning because it followed a similar collapse against Leeds United, when Liverpool also surrendered a two-goal advantage before losing 4-2.

The result also marked Andoni Iraola's first match in charge at Anfield, while new signing Victor Munoz made his first appearance for the club after coming off the bench in the second half.

Liverpool Start Strong as Isak and Wirtz Strike

Liverpool controlled much of the opening half and created several promising attacking moments.

Isak opened the scoring in the 16th minute after combining with Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai around the edge of the Monaco penalty area.

The Swedish striker received the final pass before turning and rolling his finish into the bottom corner to give Liverpool a 1-0 lead.

Wirtz then came close to adding another when his bending effort forced goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky into a low save.

The German eventually got his goal in the 29th minute.

A dangerous delivery from Lewis Koumas caused confusion inside the Monaco six-yard box after Cody Gakpo headed the ball back into the danger area. Wirtz reacted quickest to poke the ball home from close range.

At 2-0, Liverpool appeared to be heading towards a comfortable victory.

Instead, the game followed a familiar pattern.

Monaco Fight Back Before Half-Time

Monaco were handed a route back into the match shortly before the interval.

Aleksandr Golovin won a penalty after being brought down inside the Liverpool box following a challenge from Virgil van Dijk.

Golovin stepped up and sent Alisson the wrong way, cutting Liverpool's lead to 2-1 in the 44th minute.

That goal gave Monaco renewed belief and ensured Liverpool entered half-time with their advantage reduced to just one goal.

It also changed the momentum heading into the second half.

Biereth Completes Monaco's Comeback

Liverpool made wholesale changes after the interval as Iraola prioritised giving his squad valuable minutes.

The changes disrupted Liverpool's rhythm, and Monaco quickly took advantage.

Mika Biereth equalised in the 56th minute after his initial effort was saved by Giorgi Mamardashvili. The ball fell back to the Monaco forward, who made no mistake with the second opportunity.

The comeback was now complete, and Liverpool were struggling to regain the control they had shown during the first half.

Mamardashvili was forced into another important save when Monaco threatened to complete the turnaround, pushing away a dangerous effort from Coulibaly.

But the Liverpool goalkeeper could not prevent the winning goal.

Brunner Completes Late Monaco Turnaround

With the match heading towards its final stages, Monaco found the decisive moment in the 88th minute.

A dangerous corner was delivered towards the near post, where Paris Brunner rose above the Liverpool defence to head the ball into the net.

The goal completed Monaco's comeback from 2-0 down and condemned Liverpool to another pre-season defeat.

For Iraola, the result offered a clear reminder that Liverpool still have work to do before the competitive campaign begins.

Victor Munoz Makes Liverpool Debut

One of the positives from the evening was the first appearance of new signing Victor Munoz.

The forward was introduced in the second half and received a strong reception from the Anfield crowd when his name was announced.

Munoz's debut came during a period when Iraola was making extensive changes, with the Liverpool manager eventually making 11 substitutions after the break.

While it was only a pre-season appearance, the outing gave Munoz his first opportunity to experience playing in front of the Anfield crowd and begin adapting to his new surroundings.

Iraola Faces Familiar Pre-Season Problem

Liverpool's defeat was particularly notable because of the similarity to their previous loss against Leeds.

The Reds also led Leeds 2-0 before eventually losing 4-2 in Chicago.

Iraola acknowledged the similarities and explained that his team currently lacks the fitness required to maintain the same level for an entire match.

The Liverpool manager was pleased with the first-half performance but admitted Monaco were significantly better after the interval.

The issue is understandable during pre-season, particularly with several senior players returning from the World Cup and the squad still adapting to a new manager and training methods.

However, the repeated nature of the collapses means the weakness is worth monitoring.

What Liverpool's Defeat Means

The result should not be viewed as a definitive assessment of Iraola's Liverpool tenure, with the competitive season still ahead.

There were encouraging signs in the first half. Liverpool created chances, pressed effectively and produced the attacking combinations that allowed Isak and Wirtz to score.

The bigger concern was the drop-off after the break.

Liverpool's inability to maintain their intensity for 90 minutes allowed Monaco to take control, while the large number of substitutions also contributed to a loss of continuity.

Iraola now has another opportunity to assess his squad when Liverpool face Como in their next pre-season fixture.

The defeat against Monaco therefore provides both positives and warnings. Liverpool have shown they can produce dangerous attacking football under their new manager, but protecting leads and maintaining intensity across a full match remain areas that require attention before the new season begins.