Andoni Iraola calls on Liverpool to sharpen up in attack before Fenerbahce test

Andoni Iraola has said Liverpool must improve their attacking play but dismissed concerns over the contrast between his team’s output in the Premier League and Champions League.

Liverpool boast a 100% record in Europe this season and can take a significant step towards qualification for the knockout phase with victory away at Fenerbahce on Wednesday. Former Liverpool favourite Dirk Kuyt will take charge of his first European game with the Turkish club, having replaced Ismail Kartal on an interim basis last week.

Iraola’s side failed to register a shot on target, according to Opta, during Sunday’s defeat by Arsenal, the first time Liverpool have drawn a blank in a Premier League home game since Opta records began in 2003-04. The Liverpool head coach believes the statistic did not reflect his team’s performance but admitted there is room for improvement.

“It is difficult when you lose but honestly I am happy with a lot of things from the other day,” said Iraola, who is without the injured Ryan Gravenberch in Istanbul. “But we still need to improve, especially attacking the box. A lot of times we were there with the numbers but we were not making the proper runs and waiting for second balls. We put Arsenal under pressure and they defended well but I liked a lot of things.”

Liverpool have scored more goals in three Champions League games this season (12) than in nine Premier League fixtures (11) but Iraola denied the disparity is a serious concern.

He added: “We have had better results in the Champions League and Carabao Cup than the Premier League but it’s very early in the season for these comparisons. We want to continue this run in the Champions League. This is a good chance to get to 12 points and try to qualify, and then try to finish in the top eight, but Champions League away games are difficult, especially in this stadium and this atmosphere. We have to be mentally very ready.”

Kuyt returned to Fenerbahce as Kartal’s assistant only this summer – he played for the club for three seasons after leaving Liverpool in 2012 – but was appointed interim coach following Kartal’s resignation in the wake of last week’s 2-1 defeat by Galatasaray.

The former Liverpool striker said: “Tomorrow will be a very special occasion for me but, at the stage we are in, I’m not the important person. It’s about the club. Romelu [Lukaku] was speaking about how important it is to show the fans – who deserve much more – a reaction and a good performance. We have really good players but we need to show up. Liverpool are an amazing team but so are Fenerbahce. If the fans show up, I think Europe will see how big this fanbase is.”

Iraola, meanwhile, said he has not received or sought an explanation from Pro Ref over the decision not to award Liverpool a penalty for Jurriën Timber’s shirt-pull on Alexander Isak on Sunday.

He said: “I didn’t ask for an explanation and I haven’t received an explanation, no. I told you what I thought about the penalties at the time but, honestly, I don’t have the time [to ask Pro Ref]. There is just two days between games and I have been preparing for Fenerbahce.”