Kerkez, Szoboszlai and Gravenberch detail Iraola's fitness demands at Liverpool
The short version
- Milos Kerkez says Andoni Iraola demands pressing and intensity across the full 90 minutes.
- Kerkez previously played two seasons under Iraola at Bournemouth.
- Dominik Szoboszlai says training sessions have become hard and long to prepare for aggressive match play.
- Ryan Gravenberch highlights Iraola's man-to-man pressing system and increased squad competition.
Liverpool players say new head coach Andoni Iraola expects constant pressing, man-to-man marking and high running output for full matches.
Liverpool defender Milos Kerkez has described the physical standards new head coach Andoni Iraola is setting at the club, saying the Spaniard wants his team to press and sustain intensity for the full 90 minutes. Kerkez spent two years under Iraola at Bournemouth before rejoining him at Liverpool, and called that earlier spell important years of growth in his career.
Speaking on the Reds Roundtable podcast alongside Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai, Kerkez said the squad has to listen and run a lot, adding that if they do, he believes Liverpool have a good chance of competing for everything.
Szoboszlai confirmed that training has become harder and longer under Iraola, saying the sessions are necessary because the team wants to be aggressive, intense and outrun opponents in matches. He noted that words mean little without the work to back them up.
Gravenberch explained that Iraola asks his players to press at full intensity and defend man to man, a style he described as different but one he enjoys. He also said competition within the squad has increased, with players who fail to deliver likely to lose their place to a teammate.
Kerkez said the same philosophy applies to anyone joining Liverpool, advising newcomers to give full effort and show running, tackling and fighting, which he said the fans will appreciate.
