Liverpool 'have to get used to' intense schedule - Andoni Iraola news conference

'When the team plays well, everyone looks better' Liverpool v Tottenham (20:00 BST)

Liverpool

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Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola, asked whether the issue he identified with duels can be fixed through coaching, since it has been a long-term issue in the squad:

"Yes, I said and accepted and agree with what [the reporter who raised the issue] said. But it's not a matter of just the midfielders.

"For me, it's something more collective than just the midfielders. When we've been good collectively, the midfielders have looked a lot better, won more duels and recovered more balls, but it's not because they have played better today. It's because we are helping them more to win the duels.

"It's like the defenders. If the ones upfront do their job very well, the defenders look very good because all the balls that arrive, they arrive not clean. If we are allowing them to defend one v one all the time, be comfortable on the ball, not being aggressive - the defenders will struggle. The players in front of you are doing their job, the defenders and midfielders will win more duels because they are easier duels. The ball arrives not in the best condition and then you have more chances to win duels.

"It's much more collective than just because, 'if I change this for this because this one wins duels...' No. There's something more collective happening. That's the help we have to give to our defenders and midfielders.

"When the team plays well, everyone looks better. The key is that we all play collectively well. Everyone looks smarter, better, in better position. That's from the collective side, for me."