FOOTBALL – LIVERPOOL boss Andoni Iraola said he is still learning which players can cope with the demands of playing every three days as his side prepare to host Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup third round today.
Liverpool have made an inconsistent start to the Premier League season under Iraola, with his side drawing three of their opening four league matches despite a Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid, and the Spaniard said managing workloads remains a key challenge.
“There are players who play every three days with no issues. They are very robust, their performances don’t change too much,” Iraola said yesterday.
“There are other players where the risk is bigger and the performances are different. I have to learn who is ready to play games every three days and who needs a rest so their performance level isn’t affected.”
The Liverpool manager said experienced players such as captain Virgil van Dijk had already shown they could handle the demanding schedule, but assessing younger players and recent arrivals would take more time. “We have some other players, experienced, have done it, I know they can do it,” Iraola said.