Liverpool coach admits pointed difference between domestic and European form
· Yahoo Sports
Liverpool seek Champions League response as Iraola and Gakpo address attacking concerns
Liverpool head to Fenerbahce with a perfect Champions League record and a question still hanging over their attack. Why has scoring freely in Europe proved so much easier than finding a way through in the Premier League?
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Three European victories have delivered 12 goals, already exceeding Liverpool’s return across nine domestic league matches. Sunday’s 1-0 defeat against Arsenal, in which they failed to register a shot on target, sharpened that contrast.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Andoni Iraola acknowledged the difference while backing his players to improve. Cody Gakpo was similarly confident, with neither man treating one frustrating afternoon as a definitive judgement on Liverpool’s attacking quality.
Iraola recognises Liverpool’s contrasting fortunes
Victories over Atletico Madrid, LASK and Villarreal have given Liverpool a strong European foundation. Their challenge is to build on it while finding greater consistency elsewhere.
“It’s different,” Iraola said. “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.”
There was no attempt to dismiss the attacking difficulties. Instead, Iraola’s assessment recognised that Liverpool have produced different levels of effectiveness across the two competitions.
His European objectives remain clear, although he stopped short of suggesting that qualification was already secure.
“We’ve been better in the Champions League than in the league,” he said. “We want to qualify first, then after get to the top eight, because it gives you an advantage for the knockout stages.”
Gakpo backs attacking quality after Arsenal frustration
For Gakpo, the Arsenal defeat needs to be considered alongside Liverpool’s more productive performances.
Asked whether the absence of shots on target concerned him, the forward replied: “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.”
That confidence does not remove the need for improvement. Liverpool’s pressure against Arsenal ultimately failed to produce the decisive attacking action, leaving their opponents able to protect a narrow advantage.
Gakpo nevertheless believes the players available provide sufficient reason for optimism.
“I don’t want to say that it’s an issue. 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.”
The task now is to turn that belief into a response on the pitch.
Kuyt reunion adds significance to Istanbul visit
Fenerbahce’s appointment of Dirk Kuyt as interim manager gives the fixture an additional Liverpool connection. For Iraola, the reunion also carries meaning for staff who remember the Dutchman’s playing days at Anfield.
“I think it’s special,” he said. “Even travelling here and speaking with the staff, some of them know him from the years he played for Liverpool.”
Sentiment, however, will offer little assistance once the match begins. Liverpool face a home crowd capable of making every passage of possession feel contested.
Gakpo sounded more energised than intimidated by that prospect.
“It’s very hostile, very loud as well,” he said. “I cannot speak for other players, but I think a lot of players do like it, because it gives some character to a game.”
Handling that atmosphere will require composure, particularly if Liverpool encounter another spell in which possession does not immediately produce chances.
Lukaku highlights Ngumoha and Barcola threat
Romelu Lukaku’s assessment offered an opponent’s perspective on Liverpool’s attacking options. The Fenerbahce striker singled out Rio Ngumoha’s direct approach and Bradley Barcola’s speed.
“Offensively they are very good as well. I like Rio [Ngumoha], I like him a lot, very direct. I saw his game that he played against Arsenal.”
On Barcola, he added: “He has a different pace, something I’ve rarely seen before.”
Admiration will not prevent Fenerbahce from looking for weaknesses. Lukaku made clear that the hosts intend to combine defensive discipline with opportunities to attack after regaining possession.
“It’s going to be a game where we have to be compact but try to do our best in those transition moments.”
For Liverpool, that presents a familiar requirement: create enough to win without giving opponents the openings they are waiting for. Their European results have established momentum. Extending it would provide a timely response to domestic disappointment.