Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has shared his thoughts following the team's 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest in their latest Premier League outing.
The Spanish tactician expressed his frustration over the team's performance before half-time, particularly focusing on the two goals conceded from throw-ins and pointing out the impact of referee delays on their substitutions.
Iraola noted that the team's passive play in the first half ultimately cost them the victory:
“We were poor in the first half. We improved significantly in the second period, managing to come from behind twice, but the disappointing first half meant we couldn’t claim the win. We were too passive without the ball, allowing our opponents to dictate play. Both goals came from throw-ins, and we failed to defend them properly. However, in the second half, once we added aggression and intensity to our game, our attacking play looked much better. I hope this serves as a lesson for us going forward.”
Iraola specifically praised defender Victor Munoz, who salvaged a point for Liverpool with his crucial goal in the 82nd minute:
“Victor was excellent. He contributed well defensively and creatively, constantly posing a threat to the opposition's goal.”
The manager delved into a controversial penalty incident and addressed the organisational issues that led to delays with substitutions:
“Regarding the penalty, the play had already moved on by the time the contact was made, and it didn’t look particularly severe. However, we were most frustrated about the substitution delays. We had to wait nearly three minutes due to an issue with the electronic board, which simply wasn’t working, while we wanted to make changes two or three pauses before conceding the goal. It's not just about that; these small details can influence the final result.”
