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Liverpool were held to a goalless draw by Como in the first half of today’s double-header, but the 0-0 scoreline doesn’t mean there weren’t plenty of talking points for Andoni Iraola. With the match played over two 35-minute halves at the AXA Training Centre, it was another useful opportunity for the Liverpool boss to assess his squad ahead of the Premier League opener against Newcastle. Here are my five biggest talking points. 1. An important run-out for Mac Allister The biggest positive was seeing Alexis Mac Allister back on the pitch. The Argentine midfielder was making his first appearance of pre-season and played around an hour as he continues to build his fitness. Mac Allister is going to be hugely important for Iraola this season, particularly with Liverpool still searching for the right balance in midfield. He doesn’t need to be at his best yet. The important thing was getting minutes into his legs and beginning to get back up to match speed. Having Mac Allister available for the start of the season could be a massive boost. 2. Muñoz impresses with his pace and directness Victor Muñoz was arguably Liverpool’s biggest attacking threat. The Spaniard showed exactly what he can offer with his pace, direct running and willingness to take defenders on. He repeatedly looked to attack space and drive towards the Como defence, giving Liverpool an attacking outlet that was sometimes missing elsewhere. It’s particularly interesting given the recent reports suggesting Muñoz is being considered as an option through the middle. His versatility could become extremely useful for Iraola. If he continues producing performances like this, he could force his way into the manager’s plans quicker than many expected. 3. Iraola’s tactics made Liverpool more solid — but chances were limited After Liverpool’s defensive problems against Leeds and Monaco, this was a much more controlled performance. The Reds looked more compact and difficult to break down, which will surely please Iraola. But there was a trade-off. Liverpool didn’t create enough. The team looked more secure defensively, but the attacking play lacked the cutting edge needed to turn possession into clear chances. And that’s probably the biggest tactical challenge for Iraola: How do you make Liverpool more defensively solid without taking away the attacking intensity that makes his football so exciting? This was a step in the right direction defensively, but there is still plenty of work to do going forward. 4. Could Koumas be an option from the bench? Lewis Koumas came on during the match and once again showed why he could be worth keeping an eye on this season. Liverpool are going to need depth. With a huge number of matches potentially ahead, Iraola won’t be able to rely on the same 11 players every week. Koumas has the ability to provide energy and attacking intent from the bench, and that’s something Liverpool could benefit from. He may not be ready to start regularly in the Premier League yet, but could he become one of those youngsters Iraola trusts for 20-30 minutes when Liverpool need something different? I wouldn’t rule it out. 5. Chiesa and Elliott need to improve This was probably the biggest negative. Federico Chiesa and Harvey Elliott both struggled to make the impact Liverpool needed in attack. Elliott, in particular, found it difficult to influence the game from the wide position, while Chiesa was unable to provide the attacking threat Liverpool needed. There is still time before Newcastle, but both players need to start showing Iraola that they can be trusted when the competitive football begins. The competition for attacking places is fierce. With Wirtz, Isak, Gakpo, Ngumoha, Muñoz and potentially Barcola or Mbaye all competing for positions, nobody can afford to have too many quiet performances. Final thoughts A 0-0 draw isn’t going to get Liverpool supporters excited, but the first Como game wasn’t really about the result. It was about giving players minutes and allowing Iraola to experiment. And there were certainly positives. Mac Allister got valuable minutes. Muñoz impressed. Liverpool looked more defensively secure. Koumas continues to make a case for involvement. But there are still questions over the attacking output — and Chiesa and Elliott will need to improve. The good news? We’ve still got another Como game at Anfield later today. And that’s where we should get a much clearer look at Iraola’s strongest team. Jamie (The Kopite View)