ShareAndoni Iraola's first game in charge of Liverpool at Anfield started well, but his team then collapsed against Monaco.Andoni Iraola's first game in charge of Liverpool at Anfield ended in defeat as he watched his team let a two-goal lead slip in a 3-2 loss to Monaco. Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz had put Liverpool into a comfortable position after 29 minutes before Aleksandr Golovin scored a penalty just before half-time. Mika Biereth levelled things up early in the second half before Paris Brunner nodded in an 88th-minute winner for Monaco, leaving Iraola with plenty to ponder at full-time. Liverpool's strong start was rewarded in the 16th minute when a neat one-two between Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch saw the latter pick out Isak, who took a touch before rifling into the bottom-left corner. The hosts pulled further clear when Wirtz tucked home from close range following a scramble on the line involving Isak, only for Golovin to reduce the deficit from the penalty spot after being upended by a clumsy challenge from Virgil van Dijk. Monaco drew level in the 56th minute when more miscommunication in Liverpool's defence allowed Biereth to be slipped in. His first effort was saved by Giorgi Mamardashvili, but he made no mistake at the second attempt after following up the rebound. Mamadou Coulibaly then drew a smart stop from Mamardashvili, but the Liverpool goalkeeper could do nothing to keep out Brunner's thumping header from Anis Soubeir's inviting corner two minutes from time. Liverpool's defensive fragilities on show again ahead of Araujo arrivalAhead of kick-off, it was confirmed by Barcelona boss Hansi Flick that Ronald Araujo was set to complete a season-long loan move to Liverpool, and defence is certainly a position Iraola needs to address after an error-strewn display. Only Jan Paul van Hecke (four) made more errors leading to goals among Premier League defenders in 2025-26 than Van Dijk (two) last season, and the Liverpool captain was at fault for Monaco's opener with a lazy attempt to win the ball. Wataru Endo, having replaced the impressive Ifeanyi Ndukwe at the heart of defence, was then played out of position, which somewhat underlines Liverpool's issues at centre-back with both Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni out injured. A set-piece switch-off compounded Liverpool's misery, and Iraola will be hoping this is not a sign of things to come at Anfield. The Reds dropped 11 points from winning positions at home in the Premier League last season, only dropping more such points in 2014-15 (12) and 2015-16 (14). There were positives for Liverpool, though. Isak and Wirtz were both on the scoresheet, though once Iraola made his changes, the Reds' lack of depth in the final third was evident. Liverpool finished with an expected goals (xG) total of 1.33 from their 15 shots, with only six of those on target, compared to Monaco's 2.2 from one fewer attempt. Bradley Barcola has been tipped to swap Paris Saint-Germain for Merseyside, but this game further highlighted the Reds' need for signings across the pitch. Andoni Iraola's first game in charge of Liverpool at Anfield started well, but his team then collapsed against Monaco.Andoni Iraola's first game in charge of Liverpool at Anfield ended in defeat as he watched his team let a two-goal lead slip in a 3-2 loss to Monaco. Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz had put Liverpool into a comfortable position after 29 minutes before Aleksandr Golovin scored a penalty just before half-time. Mika Biereth levelled things up early in the second half before Paris Brunner nodded in an 88th-minute winner for Monaco, leaving Iraola with plenty to ponder at full-time. Liverpool's strong start was rewarded in the 16th minute when a neat one-two between Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch saw the latter pick out Isak, who took a touch before rifling into the bottom-left corner. The hosts pulled further clear when Wirtz tucked home from close range following a scramble on the line involving Isak, only for Golovin to reduce the deficit from the penalty spot after being upended by a clumsy challenge from Virgil van Dijk. Monaco drew level in the 56th minute when more miscommunication in Liverpool's defence allowed Biereth to be slipped in. His first effort was saved by Giorgi Mamardashvili, but he made no mistake at the second attempt after following up the rebound. Mamadou Coulibaly then drew a smart stop from Mamardashvili, but the Liverpool goalkeeper could do nothing to keep out Brunner's thumping header from Anis Soubeir's inviting corner two minutes from time. Liverpool's defensive fragilities on show again ahead of Araujo arrivalAhead of kick-off, it was confirmed by Barcelona boss Hansi Flick that Ronald Araujo was set to complete a season-long loan move to Liverpool, and defence is certainly a position Iraola needs to address after an error-strewn display. Only Jan Paul van Hecke (four) made more errors leading to goals among Premier League defenders in 2025-26 than Van Dijk (two) last season, and the Liverpool captain was at fault for Monaco's opener with a lazy attempt to win the ball. Wataru Endo, having replaced the impressive Ifeanyi Ndukwe at the heart of defence, was then played out of position, which somewhat underlines Liverpool's issues at centre-back with both Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni out injured. A set-piece switch-off compounded Liverpool's misery, and Iraola will be hoping this is not a sign of things to come at Anfield. The Reds dropped 11 points from winning positions at home in the Premier League last season, only dropping more such points in 2014-15 (12) and 2015-16 (14). There were positives for Liverpool, though. Isak and Wirtz were both on the scoresheet, though once Iraola made his changes, the Reds' lack of depth in the final third was evident. Liverpool finished with an expected goals (xG) total of 1.33 from their 15 shots, with only six of those on target, compared to Monaco's 2.2 from one fewer attempt. Bradley Barcola has been tipped to swap Paris Saint-Germain for Merseyside, but this game further highlighted the Reds' need for signings across the pitch.