Q&AAndoni Iraola press conference: Facing Arbeloa's Fulham, Araujo, Isak, Koumas and more

Iraola's side have turned their focus back to Premier League matters as former Red Alvaro Arbeloa returns to Anfield on Saturday afternoon in charge of the Cottagers.

In his session with reporters at the AXA Training Centre, Iraola was asked about Liverpool's start to the season, the good form of a number of players in his squad and more.

Read on for a summary of the head coach's pre-match briefing.

On Liverpool scoring two goals in every game so far this season...

I think the team has goals in it. Normally in all the games we've been dangerous, we've created chances, we've scored, as you say, two goals. We could have scored more in some of those games. But now it's about being more efficient – not conceding two goals against Newcastle, not conceding the two goals against [Nottingham] Forest and especially also when the goals come because I think we are not starting the games too well. We had the positive present of Ipswich – the games look much more comfortable when you start like this. The other games, we've started losing and then you have to do a lot of effort to come back.

I would like, obviously, to score the first goal [and] everything looks easier. But we need to have the right mentality. I think we didn't start badly the other day against Atletico [Madrid]. I think we had a chance in 15 seconds, something like this, Alex [Isak] very clear chance. You score and everyone says, 'Incredible start.' You don't score and this changes. But I think the start of the games is probably one of the parts where we can be a little bit better. The second halves we've normally been better [in] but I want to try to impose ourselves from the beginning because everything becomes easier.

On Fulham...

The thing is we've just played three Premier League games and to take big conclusions about any team is, I think, too early. I think Fulham is a great example. I think they've played well in their three games, honestly – they've lost their three games by one goal. I think if you see a lot of the starts they have, if you don't know the points they have, you will think they will have four, five points at least because they've been controlling the games, they have 60-something per cent of possession. They've been quite comfortable on the ball especially.

They have technically lovely players. It's difficult to press well against them because they have good technical quality. But they've also conceded goals and that's the main reason they haven't won probably. But I for sure expect they've been working on this thing. We know most of the Fulham players – they haven't changed a lot. They've done some signings but the core of the team continues to be the same and they've been so good in the last years of the Premier League that we know it's going to be a difficult game.

On Arbeloa...

I think we played very few times together in the national team – we were fighting more or less for [the] position. I think he was more successful in he played more games than me in that case! We haven't had too much of a relationship from there. I remember a lot of games playing against each other when he was also in Deportivo La Coruna, in Real Madrid and in different teams. But at the end, this is the Premier League. Once the game starts, you focus on yourself.

On Alexis Mac Allister's form...

I said it before the [Atletico] game, I consider him a great player and I think he understands very well the game. He has also the experience that is very good for quite a young team like we are right now. I'm very happy to have him in our team and I hope he can keep this level of performance. And if he can even improve it, much better.

On whether we could be about to see Isak 'at his very best'...

We hope so. I think he is doing well. I'm happy with the improvements he's doing game to game. In the physical side, I see him in a really good place. I think he looks free, he moves with confidence. Technically, we know he is very good. He's understanding better what we need from the No.9 position. I think he's in a good place. You will evaluate him because of the goals. I always say I will not evaluate him because of the goals – I think he has to help us in a lot of things, not just there. I think he's in a good place.

On Ronald Araujo's start to his Liverpool career and his experience...

I think Ronald, as you say, he's used to playing big games. He's used to playing in the Champions League, he's used to fighting for titles, he's used to playing for a big club. For him probably the biggest challenge was first the language – he doesn't speak English – so sometimes the adaptation to a new country is difficult. But I think he has good help also inside in the changing room. I think this change a little bit mentally has helped him a lot in terms of he's been a lot of years [playing] for Barça and I think he needed this kind of change.

Also it helps that performance-wise I think he has been playing very well. The games against Forest, against Newcastle, it's difficult to come in from the bench as a centre-back and he came [in], he did a good job, we scored also when he was on the pitch. [It] gave him probably some confidence and then when he's had the chance to start – also in a position where he has played before but probably is not his main position – he has done very well.

On how he now assesses the physical readiness of his squad to maintain the level of intensity he wants…

When I talked about these things it was not just the physical side, it was the mentality, to keep the focus during 90 minutes. Now I think we are probably playing better second halves than first halves. It means probably that we are finishing the games quite strong but still you need to do a full 90 minutes, not just starts, not just the second half, we need to be complete all the time. But I see most of the players in a good physical condition. We have some situations – [for example] Bradley Barcola already hasn't had a proper pre-season [so] he's got cramps. The ones that have had some niggles, a little bit less preparation, they are still not probably at their best, but overall I see the team in a good place.

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On how impressed he has been with Lewis Koumas…

I think the first week I was here, I already told the club that he was staying all the season. I had very few doubts because he's someone who covers us on the seven, on the nine, on the 10, on the 11. He trains very well, good attitude, good player, scores goals. He needs to add more things, obviously, like every young player, but he already has a good amount of experience playing in the Championship at a high level and I see him ready to help us. I like what he gives us, even in the scenarios where we've been losing like Newcastle away, the other day when we were winning, I think he helps us in both scenarios and I'm very happy to have him, yes.

On Koumas' mentality…

I think he has very clear what he needs to do, and what he needs to do is to help the team. Sometimes it's going to be on the ball, sometimes it's going to be without the ball, sometimes he is going to be attacking the spaces for someone else to receive the ball. And he understands this, and when you have this mentality, normally it's good for the team.