Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola admitted he was frustrated after the Reds were held to a 2-2 draw by Nottingham Forest at Anfield.
Liverpool were forced to come from behind twice on Saturday, with Dan Ndoye first putting Forest ahead before Alexander Isak levelled shortly after the hour mark.
Morgan Gibbs-White then restored Forest’s advantage from the penalty spot, but Víctor Muñoz’s late equaliser ensured Liverpool grabbed a point.
For Iraola, the result was particularly disappointing given Liverpool’s improvement after the break and the chances they had to take control of the contest.
Poor first half proves costly
Iraola was particularly critical of Liverpool’s opening 45 minutes, admitting his side failed to impose themselves on the game.
Liverpool were more aggressive after the interval, with Iraola praising the improvement in intensity and speed in possession.
However, that improvement ultimately came too late to secure all three points.
The Reds manager said in his press conference: “I think it has been quite clear, the first half has been poor from our side.
“I think we haven’t been good enough, we haven’t controlled the game and afterwards we improved a lot in the second half.
“We were much more intense, much quicker on the ball with more sense of urgency, and I think that we have been much better.
“But it hasn’t been enough to win the game, and I think we have to blame the first half that we’ve done.”
Iraola frustrated by dropped points
The draw represents a frustrating result for Liverpool, particularly as they twice found themselves behind and needing to fight back.
Iraola made it clear that while he was pleased with the response, Liverpool’s ambitions require more than simply rescuing points.
The Liverpool boss acknowledged that his side had shown character by coming back from two deficits but stressed that victories are ultimately what matter.
Iraola said: “I’m frustrated because we want to win, especially at home.
“It’s not a good result to draw at home.
“It’s true that we’ve come back from two results where we were losing, like the other day against Newcastle.
“But at the end, what makes the difference are the wins and the three points.
“I like what we’ve done in the second half, but we haven’t been able to complete the comeback and the point.
“It leaves you frustrated.”
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Aggravating situation for penalty decision
Iraola was particularly frustrated by the circumstances surrounding Nottingham Forest’s second goal.
The Liverpool manager said he had already requested a triple substitution several minutes before the penalty was awarded, but the changes could not be made because of an apparent problem with the electronic substitution board.
According to Iraola, the ball went out of play several times while Liverpool were waiting to make the changes, but the substitutions still did not go through.
Iraola therefore felt Liverpool were put in an aggravating situation, stating: “I wanted to make those three subs like three minutes before.
“And there have been two, three or four times I think the ball has gone out and I still don’t know the reason why we haven’t made the subs.
“I think definitely he was having some problems with the board or something.
“[It] would have happened, definitely. You stop [the game] because you want to sub [but] it doesn’t happen.
“The quick throw-in, because we are waiting for the subs, so if I ask for the sub, and I already asked and I complained even the previous time that the ball went out and everyone was – even the supporters, I think they were shouting – aware of the situation, but I don’t know the reason why they haven’t done it.
“And the penalty, I leave you to decide if it’s a penalty or not.”
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Wirtz provides positives despite disallowed goal
Florian Wirtz was another talking point after Liverpool saw a goal ruled out by VAR during the first half.
Iraola felt Liverpool had been unfortunate with the decision, particularly after Forest’s opener had also appeared offside in real time.
The Liverpool boss believes the goal could have significantly changed the game, particularly given the timing of the decision.
Despite the disappointment, Iraola remained firmly behind Wirtz and believes the midfielder will become increasingly influential as he settles into the team.
The Spaniard said to the press: “Accepting and assuming that it has been a poor first half, we’ve also been very unlucky, because their goal I thought honestly like it looked offside [in real time] then there is a heel of someone [playing them onside].
“Then there’s the VAR decision, the goal from Florian, even I think Forest was not complaining.
“We were not really aware and then there is a VAR decision that goes against you.
“It would have been lovely for us and for Florian to score the goal and it’s still the first half and it’s 1-1.
“Obviously, it leaves you in a much better position for the second half.
“In the second goal also, he does very well. He does very, very well.
“Florian is very good. I trust him a lot. I think we have to find the best way to use him.
“I think his position from my side is quite clear and the more he plays with us I think the better he will be. I have very little doubt.”
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Liverpool must improve their intensity
For Iraola, Liverpool’s first-half struggles were not simply a problem with their possession play.
The manager pointed to Liverpool’s work without the ball as a major reason why Forest were able to settle into the match.
Liverpool improved once they became more aggressive defensively, allowing them to regain possession and attack with greater speed.
The result will therefore leave Iraola with mixed feelings.
Liverpool showed character to come from behind twice, but their slow start and lack of intensity ultimately cost them two points at Anfield.
With the season moving forward, Iraola will know Liverpool cannot afford to repeat those mistakes if they are to maintain their challenge at the top of the Premier League.
The Reds boss explained: “I think what we do without the ball affects a lot after our play in possession.
“I think in the first half we were being passive without the ball, leaving a lot of distance, leaving them joining some passes, becoming a little bit comfortable.
“After we improved this and that matter of intensity, being closer to the opposition gives you the chance to win duels and then you start attacking quicker, attacking better.
“This lack of intensity without the ball I think has hurt us and also we’ve had issues today with the throw-ins.
“Not only the long throw-in, just the throw-ins because the first ball comes from a throw-in [that] we don’t defend well in the right side after there is a long throw-in and obviously the second goal comes from that situation.”
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