Player Ratings: Four 4/10’s as Liverpool are beat by AS Monaco

Player Ratings vs AS Monaco as Reds Collapse in Iraola’s Anfield Debut

Liverpool surrendered a two goal advantage for the second successive match as AS Monaco recovered to win 3-2 at Anfield, leaving Andoni Iraola with plenty to consider following his first home appearance as head coach.

Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz had put Liverpool firmly in control, both delivering performances that suggested the attacking structure is beginning to take shape. Yet the defensive instability that surfaced against Leeds returned, with Monaco exploiting errors before completing an impressive turnaround.

For a pre season fixture, results only tell part of the story.

Isak was excellent during his 45 minutes. His movement repeatedly unsettled the AS Monaco defence and his finish for Liverpool’s opener was outstanding, calmly converting after Ryan Gravenberch‘s clever assist.

Wirtz was similarly influential. Given licence to operate closer to Isak, the German found spaces between Monaco’s midfield and defence and looked considerably more dangerous. His goal, following another lively attacking move, made it two goals in successive pre season matches.

Ifeanyi Ndukwe was arguably Liverpool’s most impressive individual performer. Starting alongside Virgil van Dijk at Anfield represented another significant examination of the youngster, and he handled it with remarkable composure.

Liverpool appeared comfortable until Van Dijk unnecessarily challenged Aleksandr Golovin inside the penalty area shortly before half time.

Golovin converted the resulting penalty and suddenly Monaco had a route back into the game.

The second half created greater concern. Liverpool lost control through midfield, their defensive structure became stretched and Monaco began finding opportunities with increasing regularity.

Giorgi Mamardashvili will feel he could have done better when Mika Biereth scored, while Milos Kerkez was culpable at the corner that eventually produced Monaco’s winning goal.

Iraola will understand that substitutions inevitably disrupt rhythm during pre season, but conceding seven goals across matches against Leeds and AS Monaco is still something Liverpool must address before competitive football begins.

• Alisson Becker, 7: Comfortable when tested and unfortunate not to reach Golovin’s penalty.

• Jeremie Frimpong, 6: Showed his pace early but had limited influence afterwards.

• Ifeanyi Ndukwe, 9: Outstanding composure and another performance suggesting he belongs at this level.

• Virgil van Dijk, 5: Generally secure until an unnecessary challenge gifted Monaco their penalty.

• Kostas Tsimikas, 4: Wasteful crossing and several loose moments in possession.

• Dominik Szoboszlai, 6: Combined neatly in Liverpool’s opener but remained relatively quiet.

• Ryan Gravenberch, 7: Improved after a slow beginning and produced a superb assist for Isak.

• Florian Wirtz, 8: Creative, intelligent and increasingly dangerous when deployed closer to goal.

• Lewis Koumas, 7: Another confident pre season display, especially when attacking from the right.

• Alexander Isak, 8: Sharp movement, excellent link play and a superbly taken goal.

• Cody Gakpo, 5: Missed an early opportunity and struggled to consistently threaten Monaco.

Alisson Becker, 7: Comfortable when tested and unfortunate not to reach Golovin’s penalty.

Jeremie Frimpong, 6: Showed his pace early but had limited influence afterwards.

Ifeanyi Ndukwe, 9: Outstanding composure and another performance suggesting he belongs at this level.

Virgil van Dijk, 5: Generally secure until an unnecessary challenge gifted Monaco their penalty.

Kostas Tsimikas, 4: Wasteful crossing and several loose moments in possession.

Dominik Szoboszlai, 6: Combined neatly in Liverpool’s opener but remained relatively quiet.

Ryan Gravenberch, 7: Improved after a slow beginning and produced a superb assist for Isak.

Florian Wirtz, 8: Creative, intelligent and increasingly dangerous when deployed closer to goal.

Lewis Koumas, 7: Another confident pre season display, especially when attacking from the right.

Alexander Isak, 8: Sharp movement, excellent link play and a superbly taken goal.

Cody Gakpo, 5: Missed an early opportunity and struggled to consistently threaten Monaco.

• Giorgi Mamardashvili, 4: Made saves but should have handled Monaco’s equaliser better.

• Wataru Endo, 5: Competitive and dependable despite occasionally becoming exposed.

• Luke Chambers, 4: Endured a difficult second half and made one particularly dangerous mistake.

• Milos Kerkez, 4: Struggled to influence proceedings and was involved in Monaco’s winner.

• Trey Nyoni, 5: Unable to reproduce his stronger performances from earlier in pre season.

• James McConnell, 5: Found it difficult to establish control as Monaco dominated midfield.

• Rio Ngumoha, 6: Liverpool’s liveliest second half attacker and carried genuine threat.

• Victor Munoz, 6: Produced one exciting burst but received limited opportunities to influence the game.

• Calvin Ramsay, N/A: Insufficient time to rate.

• Harvey Elliott, N/A: Insufficient time to rate.

• Federico Chiesa, N/A: Insufficient time to rate.

Giorgi Mamardashvili, 4: Made saves but should have handled Monaco’s equaliser better.

Wataru Endo, 5: Competitive and dependable despite occasionally becoming exposed.

Luke Chambers, 4: Endured a difficult second half and made one particularly dangerous mistake.

Milos Kerkez, 4: Struggled to influence proceedings and was involved in Monaco’s winner.

Trey Nyoni, 5: Unable to reproduce his stronger performances from earlier in pre season.

James McConnell, 5: Found it difficult to establish control as Monaco dominated midfield.

Rio Ngumoha, 6: Liverpool’s liveliest second half attacker and carried genuine threat.

Victor Munoz, 6: Produced one exciting burst but received limited opportunities to influence the game.

Calvin Ramsay, N/A: Insufficient time to rate.

Harvey Elliott, N/A: Insufficient time to rate.

Federico Chiesa, N/A: Insufficient time to rate.

• Andoni Iraola, 6: Saw encouraging attacking patterns from his strongest selection, but Liverpool again lost control after taking a two goal lead. Defensive organisation and game management remain immediate priorities.

Andoni Iraola, 6: Saw encouraging attacking patterns from his strongest selection, but Liverpool again lost control after taking a two goal lead. Defensive organisation and game management remain immediate priorities.