Player Ratings:…
August9August 11, 2026

Player Ratings:…

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Yahoo Football News

Liverpool Player Ratings vs AS
Monaco: Reds Falter in Iraola’s Anfield Debut

Liverpool relinquished a two-goal lead for the second consecutive match, as AS Monaco mounted a comeback to secure a 3-2 victory at Anfield. This result presents Andoni Iraola with numerous considerations following his first home match as head coach.

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Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz initially put Liverpool in a dominant position, showcasing a developing attacking structure. However, the defensive frailties that emerged in their previous match against Leeds resurfaced, allowing Monaco to capitalize on mistakes and turn the tide in their favor.

As with any pre-season match, results only tell a fraction of the story.

Isak and Wirtz Provide Promising Signs for Liverpool

During his 45 minutes on the pitch, Isak was a standout performer. His movement consistently troubled the AS Monaco defense, and he executed a brilliant finish for Liverpool’s opening goal after a clever setup by Ryan Gravenberch.

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Wirtz also had a significant impact. Playing closer to Isak, the German found pockets of space between Monaco’s midfield and defense, proving to be a more potent threat. His goal, which followed another dynamic attacking play, marked his second consecutive goal in pre-season.

Ifeanyi Ndukwe stood out as one of Liverpool’s most impressive players. Partnering with Virgil van Dijk for a crucial test at Anfield, the young talent displayed remarkable poise throughout the match.



Photo: IMAGO

Defensive Mistakes Shift Match Dynamics

Liverpool appeared in control until Van Dijk made an unnecessary challenge on Aleksandr Golovin inside the penalty area just before halftime.

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Golovin successfully converted the subsequent penalty, providing Monaco with a way back into the match.

The second half raised further concerns for Liverpool. They lost grip in midfield, their defensive structure became disorganized, allowing Monaco to create more scoring opportunities.

Giorgi Mamardashvili may feel he could have done better when Mika Biereth scored, while Milos Kerkez was at fault during the corner leading to Monaco’s winning goal.

Iraola will acknowledge that while substitutions can break momentum in pre-season, conceding seven goals across matches against Leeds and AS Monaco is a matter Liverpool must rectify before the start of competitive play.

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Liverpool Player Ratings vs AS Monaco

Starting XI

  • Alisson Becker: 7 – Solid when called upon and unfortunate not to stop Golovin’s penalty.

  • Jeremie Frimpong: 6 – Displayed pace early on, but had a limited impact afterward.

  • Ifeanyi Ndukwe: 9 – Demonstrated excellent composure and proved he belongs at this level.

  • Virgil van Dijk: 5 – Generally secure until an unnecessary challenge resulted in a penalty for Monaco.

  • Kostas Tsimikas: 4 – Struggled with crossing and had several careless moments in possession.

  • Dominik Szoboszlai: 6 – Combined well in the build-up to Liverpool’s goal, but was relatively quiet overall.

  • Ryan Gravenberch: 7 – Grew into the game after a slow start and provided a fantastic assist for Isak.

  • Florian Wirtz: 8 – Displayed creativity and intelligence, becoming increasingly dangerous closer to goal.

  • Lewis Koumas: 7 – Another confident performance in pre-season, particularly effective in attack from the right.

  • Alexander Isak: 8 – Showed sharp movement, excellent link-up play, and finished superbly for his goal.

  • Cody Gakpo: 5 – Missed an early chance and found it challenging to pose a consistent threat to Monaco.

Substitutes

  • Giorgi Mamardashvili: 4 – Made some saves but should have dealt with Monaco’s equalizer more effectively.

  • Wataru Endo: 5 – Competitive and reliable, though at times exposed defensively.

  • Luke Chambers: 4 – Faced a tough second half and made one notably dangerous mistake.

  • Milos Kerkez: 4 – Struggled to make an impact and was involved in Monaco’s winning goal.

  • Trey Nyoni: 5 – Could not replicate his stronger pre-season performances.

  • James McConnell: 5 – Found it hard to gain control as Monaco dominated midfield.

  • Rio Ngumoha: 6 – Liverpool’s most lively attacker in the second half, creating genuine threats.

  • Victor Munoz: 6 – Had one exciting moment but had limited chances to affect the game.

Manager

  • Andoni Iraola: 6 – Saw promising attacking patterns from his best lineup, but Liverpool once again lost control after gaining a two-goal lead. Addressing defensive organization and game management is crucial moving forward.