After a big, controversial match against Arsenal over the weekend, it feels like there’s been a bit of a hangover. But the fixtures keep coming, and Liverpool FC are in Champions League action next, playing Fenerbache in Istanbul.
At the pre-game press conference, Iraola had this to say about the difference between Liverpool in Europe and domestic action this season:
“In the Champions League we’ve been scoring a lot of goals, being very good offensively. In the league that’s probably the worst part.
We are defending very well but it’s costing us to score.”
“But it’s still early in the season. We’ve had good games. It’s a process and we will definitely improve.”
Cody Gakpo chimed in, speaking on Liverpool’s failure to register a shot on target in the Arsenal game:
“Not really. For that game, yes, because you need to shoot on target to score, but if I look back at the games we’ve played, we have created some chances, scored goals, so it doesn’t really worry us.”
“We would love to score more goals than we have up to now, but looking at the quality we have up front and in midfield, I don’t see that as an issue.”
In a separate interview with LFCTV, Bradley Barcola, seated together with Jérémy Jacquet, was asked if the defeat to Arsenal changes the team’s goals for the season:
“I don’t think it has changed the goals for this season. We had the chances to score, even to win the match.”
“Often, when we’re in a game like this, we resort to long balls, but in my opinion, we should try to keep the ball on the ground more, because we have the players with the quality to do that.”
“We are not going to give up. We know that other teams will drop points. So it’s down to us to remain consistent until the end of the season.”
Obviously, 0 points from 6 at home against Manchester City and Arsenal is a big blow, but there are positive signs in how the team has managed to churn out results despite prominent issues in the squad. The Reds will have a big chance to bounce back against Fenerbahce and go on another run.
