Liverpool 2-3 Monaco:Every summer offers the chance for Premier League clubs to reset, assess what needs to change, and go again. This is very much the case for Liverpool in 2026, as they’ve replaced Arne Slot with new manager Andoni Iraola.
The former Bournemouth boss arrives at Anfield with plenty of pressure as he aims to get the club back challenging for the title, after a poor fifth-place league finish last term. He will be using pre-season to figure out which players he can trust.Against Monaco, Iraola may well be worried by the way his team went two goals ahead, only to lose the game 3-2. Strikes from Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz saw his side race to a 2-0 lead inside 30 minutes, but efforts from Aleksandr Golovin and Mika Biereth levelled the scores before Paris Brunner netted a late winner for the Ligue 1 side.
As is the way with pre-season friendlies, plenty of subs were made in the game, which will somewhat explain away the second-half collapse. That said, three Liverpool squad players have likely damaged their chances with a series of underwhelming cameos.Alexander Isak LiverpoolRelatedThe Most Expensive 11 in Premier League History Has Been NamedBy Alfie Cairns CulshawUncertainty Over Three Liverpool Players After Monaco LossLiverpool manager Andoni IraolaAction Images via Reuters/John SibleyWataru Endo’s time at Liverpool has been a little odd.
Signed by Jurgen Klopp and then hardly used by Slot, it’s unclear if Iraola has big plans for the midfielder, but it feels unlikely. He actually came on in centre-back at half-time against Monaco but didn’t exactly shine.As noted by journalist Matt Addison in his player ratings for Liverpool.com, he ‘was at the scene of the crime a couple of times.’ Now 33, it’s hard to see Endo playing a big part in the club’s plans going forward.Another player with his future up in the air is Federico Chiesa.
Like Endo, the Italian has failed to ever nail down a regular starting spot at Anfield and was given just 15 minutes against Monaco. In that time, per SofaScore, he failed to have a single shot or cross, and completed just two passes.Harvey Elliott was another player brought on off the bench against the French team, but in his 14-minute cameo, he also had a limited impact with only eight touches. The Englishman spent last season out on a disastrous loan at Aston Villa, and his future at Liverpool is also unclear amid exit rumours.
All three, however, appear to have lost the faith of their own fans.Bradley Barcola Wants Liverpool as PSG Talks BeginPlay Video0:44Liverpool Fans Want Anfield Trio Soldfederico chiesa-1After the game, many Liverpool fans were in agreement that the club should look to sell the trio, and use the resulting funds to invest in better players. One supporter said:”Elliott and Chiesa and Endo are way off the level playing for Liverpool, all need to be binned before the window closes.”Others felt similarly, writing: “Endo, Chiesa, and Elliott need to be sold and get bodies in.” And, “Endo, Chiesa, Elliott – all need to be gone.”
A fourth agreed, adding Calvin Ramsay to the group: “Just pre-season, but I have a sneaky feeling that Endo, Ramsay, Elliott, and Chiesa may not be good enough for serious minutes this season.”Adding to the frustration felt by many, one supporter stated: Chiesa, Elliott and Endo need selling and improving on.” A final fan said: “There are so many players in this squad I wish we could get rid of. Endo, Elliott, Chiesa, just to name a few
