Iraola says Liverpool must balance control with attacking ambition

Summarised from 3 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 6 Nov, 15:51 · Archive

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola says his side must take more risks in attack to improve their goal-scoring after a poor start to the season.

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has acknowledged that his team must sacrifice some defensive control to create more attacking chances ahead of their match against Crystal Palace on Sunday.

The Reds have created the second-fewest big chances in the Premier League this season and scored only four goals in five home games, their joint-fewest at this stage of a season in their history. They set an unwanted record against Arsenal last weekend, failing to register a shot on target in a home Premier League game for the first time in more than 440 games since Opta records began in 2003.

Iraola, who arrived at Anfield last summer with a reputation for front-foot, direct football, said he wants his players to take more risks to turn their domination into clear-cut opportunities. 'In possession we can have good positions, but sometimes we have to throw numbers inside the box, arrive with more players,' he said. 'It will take a little bit of control away, but it will give us more threat when we arrive.'

The manager also reflected on a statistic showing Liverpool have conceded the most fouls of any Premier League side this season with 128, while only winning 88 fouls – fewer than three other teams. Iraola said his squad was 'quite an honest group, sometimes too honest' in their approach to the game, and that 'the balance is that there's a big difference' between their intensity and committing fouls.

Liverpool sit fifth in the Premier League, nine points off first-placed Arsenal after recent defeats to the Gunners and Fenerbahce. Despite conceding only nine goals in nine league games, they have conceded 10 in four Champions League matches. Iraola said the season had been 'strange', with the team scoring and conceding heavily in European competition whilst being more cautious domestically.

How it is being reported

• Liverpool XI vs Crystal Palace: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup, injury latest for Premier LeagueAndoni Iraola has some key selection dilemmas for Selhurst Park tripEvening Standard · 6 Nov, 16:39
• Iraola: We must sacrifice control for creativity to fix scoring woesLiverpool must sacrifice control in games in order to fix their creativity problems, Andoni Iraola has demanded ahead of their weekend trip to Crystal Palace, live on Sky Sports .Sky Sports · 6 Nov, 15:00
• Iraola: We must sacrifice control for creativity to fix scoring woesLiverpool must sacrifice control in games in order to fix their creativity problems, Andoni Iraola has demanded ahead of their weekend trip to Crystal Palace, live on Sky Sports .Sky Sports Football · 6 Nov, 15:00
• Andoni Iraola reacts to striking Liverpool fouls statistic: ‘We’re an honest group’Off the back of two defeats, the Liverpool boss was speaking ahead of his side’s match at Crystal Palace on SundayIndependent Sport · 6 Nov, 14:26

In this story: Andoni Iraola · Liverpool · Crystal Palace · Arsenal · Fenerbahce

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