“We have to react” – Andoni Iraola sends message to Liverpool squad ahead of Crystal Palace clash

“We have to react” – Andoni Iraola sends message to Liverpool squad ahead of Crystal Palace clash Andoni Iraola Demands Liverpool Response Ahead of Crystal Palace Test Liverpool have lost two on the spin, the noise has grown louder and Andoni Iraola is not hiding from it. His message before the trip to Crystal Palace is simple enough, stop the slide and win the game. Defeats to Arsenal and Fenerbahce have changed the mood quickly. That is what happens at a club of this size. Nobody gets the luxury of drifting through a rough spell and calling it part of the process. Iraola knows that, and he is meeting it head on before this Premier League fixture at Selhurst Park. Liverpool Need a Clear Reaction Iraola summed up the shift in mood without dressing it up: “I think that’s the challenge, especially in a club like Liverpool. One week ago in this same press conference, we were on a run, everything was in a good place and we were in a better mood. “And now, two defeats, it changes. It has to change and it has to be like this in a club like ours. Now we have to react after two defeats. “We need the win against Palace away and we’ve been, I think, in similar situations – I remember Bournemouth before the international break, even the Brentford game. “So, we have to go there and do the job and win the game.” There is nothing complicated in that. Liverpool do not need soothing words, they need a performance with control, fewer mistakes and a result to take into the November international break. Iraola accepted that poor runs and good runs both distort perception, and he was right to say so. “It’s not easy in the moment because we react the same way. When we lose a game, everyone is angry. “But we have to have some perspective and we know in the process we’ll go up and down. “We have to get through these moments. We would love to have good performances, wins, good results, but normally it doesn’t happen.” Photo: IMAGO Set-Play Problems Need Fixing Fast The head coach did not try to spin the recent issues away. Liverpool conceded goals from set-plays in midweek and that remains a blunt warning sign. In tight away games, especially at grounds where space closes quickly, those details decide everything. Iraola put it plainly: “There are moments where you are in a good run, like we were before Arsenal. Now you lose two games, there are always doubts. I understand. As a supporter, I would do the same – it’s normal. “But the ones that are here and we work every day and we know what we are doing. We are not as bad as we look today, we were not as good as we looked one week ago. “We have to have some perspective and this is part of my challenge also in terms of mood for the group. “Obviously we need to correct things, especially the other day that cost us the goals on set-plays, but we still are doing good things.” That is the reality. Liverpool are not in crisis, but they have clear flaws to address. If the defending at dead balls is loose again, Palace will test them. Crystal Palace Threat at Selhurst Park Palace come into this one in 18th place, but league position in November rarely tells the full story. Under Pierre Sage, there is continuity in shape and method, and they showed resilience in Europe by rescuing a late result with 10 men. That matters. Iraola has clearly studied them in detail. “I think, even if they change the manager, there is a continuity in terms of more or less the system is the same, the players are very familiarised with the things that they are trying to do. “I was obviously watching the game yesterday. They fight until the end. Even with 10 players, they managed to get a result in the last second. “I think it’s a team that has good quality players inside. They put in their box in the middle [Adam] Wharton, [Daichi] Kamada, Yeremy Pino, [Quinten] Timber – all the players that can play there are good on the ball. “And also, it’s a pitch that is not the biggest pitch, so you feel quickly under pressure in terms of one throw-in, one long ball, straight away it goes into the boxes. “So, there is a lot of situations inside the boxes that you have to be very good offensively and defensively.” Selhurst Park Demands Authority That final point is the key one. Selhurst Park is not a place for vague football. It demands authority in both penalty areas. Liverpool will have to stand up physically, defend the direct moments and take their chances when they come. This does not need to be pretty. It needs to be efficient. Iraola has already set the standard for what counts on Sunday. After two defeats, excuses are useless. Liverpool need a reaction, and they need it now.