Liverpool lost 3-2 to Monaco at Anfield on Sunday, 9 August, after leading by two goals in Andoni Iraola's first home match as head coach. Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz put the Reds in control before Monaco scored three times, with Paris Brunner heading the winner in the 88th minute. The defeat follows another surrendered two-goal lead against Leeds United on Liverpool's US tour. For supporters, the encouraging part was the attacking connection between Isak and Wirtz; the concern was another second-half collapse.
What People Are Searching For
The immediate question is how Liverpool managed to lose after such a convincing opening. Isak scored after 16 minutes, finishing a move involving Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch, before Wirtz was credited with Liverpool's second before the half-hour mark in the club's official report.
Monaco's route back began before half-time. Virgil van Dijk fouled Aleksandr Golovin, who converted the resulting penalty. Mika Biereth then made it 2-2 in the 56th minute after Giorgi Mamardashvili saved his first attempt, setting up the late turnaround documented in the official Liverpool match report.
What Is Confirmed
Liverpool led 2-0, Monaco recovered to 2-2 and Brunner headed home from a corner in the 88th minute to complete the comeback. The attendance at Anfield was 60,216. Alisson Becker, Cody Gakpo and Van Dijk made their first pre-season appearances, Victor Munoz made his non-competitive Liverpool debut and Wataru Endo returned from injury.
There was also a clear positive in the Isak-Wirtz combination. The pair exchanged passes before an early Wirtz effort was saved, Isak finished Gravenberch's pass for the opener and both remained heavily involved in Liverpool's attacking play. The Athletic reports that Liverpool invested more than £225 million combined in the two players last summer.
- Pre-season friendly
- A non-competitive match used by clubs to prepare players and tactics before competitive fixtures.
- Set-piece
- A restart such as a corner or free-kick. Monaco's winning goal came from a corner.
What Is Unconfirmed
There is conflicting source detail over Liverpool's second goal. Liverpool's official report, The Athletic, The Independent and This Is Anfield credit Wirtz with the goal, while the supplied BBC player-rating text says Isak claimed the final touch. With the club's own match report listing Wirtz as the scorer, that is the attribution used here.
The supplied reports also contain differing descriptions of individual moments, but the central result and scoring sequence are consistent across the post-match coverage.
The Bigger Picture
The pattern matters more than the friendly result itself. Liverpool had also led Leeds United by two goals before losing 4-2 in their previous match, meaning Iraola's side have now surrendered two-goal advantages in consecutive pre-season defeats. Against Monaco, several substitutions reduced the intensity, while the decisive goal again exposed a problem defending a set-piece.
At the other end, Iraola has reasons for encouragement. Lewis Koumas was heavily involved from the right, 18-year-old Ifeanyi Ndukwe produced another composed display at centre-back, and Munoz showed flashes of pace after entering around the hour mark. The contrast was stark: Liverpool's strongest combination produced an impressive opening, but the reshaped side could not maintain control.
Latest Status
The final score is confirmed as Liverpool 2-3 Monaco. Isak and Wirtz scored for Liverpool; Golovin, Biereth and Brunner scored for Monaco. Liverpool's summer friendly programme concludes next weekend with a double-header against Como 1907, giving Iraola another opportunity to test his squad after consecutive defeats from winning positions.
FAQ
What was the Liverpool vs Monaco score?
Monaco beat Liverpool 3-2 at Anfield on 9 August 2026. Liverpool had led 2-0 before Monaco completed the comeback with an 88th-minute Paris Brunner header.
Who scored for Liverpool against Monaco?
Alexander Isak scored Liverpool's opener in the 16th minute. Liverpool's official report credits Florian Wirtz with the second goal before the half-hour mark.
Who scored Monaco's winner against Liverpool?
Paris Brunner scored Monaco's winning goal in the 88th minute. He headed in from a corner after Mika Biereth had earlier equalised.
Was this Andoni Iraola's first Liverpool game at Anfield?
Yes. The Monaco friendly was Iraola's first match in charge of Liverpool at Anfield, and it ended in a 3-2 defeat.
When do Liverpool play next?
Liverpool's official report says their summer friendly programme concludes next weekend with a double-header against Como 1907. This Is Anfield lists the next match against Como for Sunday, 16 August.