Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola demands swift Palace response after losing momentum

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola says his side must respond immediately to two successive defeats when they visit Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday, 08 November 2026.

The Reds lost 1-0 at home to Arsenal last Sunday before a 3-2 defeat by Turkish side Fenerbahce in the Champions League on Wednesday. They are now fifth in the Premier League with 15 points, nine behind leaders Arsenal.

Iraola said he understood the anger among Liverpool supporters but insisted the team is not as poor as its recent results suggest.

“When we lose a match, everyone becomes angry, but we have to look at things with balance and recognise that the journey includes highs and lows,” he said.

“We have to get through this moment. We want to perform well and win every time, but that does not happen all the time. We had been on a positive run, then lost two matches and doubts appeared. I completely understand that – if I were a supporter, I would do the same.

“But we work every day and know what we are doing. We are not as bad as we look today, nor as bad as we appeared a week ago. The challenge is maintaining the group’s morale.”

Iraola remains unhappy that Liverpool were not awarded a penalty after Alexander Isak went down during the defeat by Arsenal. He said the club had received no official explanation.

“We have not had any explanation, but that is the system in place,” he said, as reported by Sky Sports. “We will wait for the conclusions of the referees’ committee, just as we did after the Brighton match, when we got nothing from it. I think we will have to wait 10 days before they announce their view.”

The Liverpool manager described victory at Crystal Palace as essential, recalling similar situations against Bournemouth and Brentford.

“The challenge at a club the size of Liverpool is that last week we were enjoying a fantastic winning run. Everything was in place and everyone was in an excellent mood, but after two defeats everything changes completely,” he said.

“We need the right reaction. Winning against Crystal Palace is an urgent necessity. We have faced similar circumstances against Bournemouth and Brentford, and we have to go there, do the job and collect the points.”

Iraola welcomed the inclusion of Rio Ngumoha in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the next international break, calling it “very good news” for both the player and Liverpool. He said Ngumoha was consistently dangerous when given favourable positions and continued to improve.

Crystal Palace are 18th with seven points. Iraola said their 1-1 draw with Hoffenheim in the Europa League on Thursday, secured in the final seconds despite playing with 10 men, showed their character.

“Even with a change of manager, there is continuity in their style,” he said. “They have quality players and play good football with the ball. Their ground is not big, so pressure arrives quickly from a throw-in or a long ball, and there are many situations in the box that demand high quality defensively and offensively.”

Ryan Gravenberch is Liverpool’s only doubt. Iraola said his availability would be decided through daily assessments based on how well he can manage the pain.

The manager also said Liverpool needed greater balance in their approach to officials and their efforts to press opponents, adding that keeping a lead created more space and made possession and attacks easier – something the team had lacked recently.