Andoni Iraola said Liverpool must accept there will be ups and downs as players adjust to his style.
Anfield’s frustration was clear during Saturday’s poor goalless draw with Fulham, with Liverpool appearing flat and short of ideas just a few days after they came from behind to beat Atletico Madrid.
Iraola said Saturday evening was perhaps the most frustrated he has felt since he replaced Arne Slot this summer, with the performance a clear step back from the wins over Ipswich and Atletico.
“I understand the frustration the other day because we were also frustrated,” he said.
“I think we were coming from two good games and we were considering it’s a step forward, Ipswich was a step forward and Atletico Madrid, and we wanted it to be another step forward. But no, it was a step backwards.
“The performance level is not like the other two. But this happens in football.
“I think we have to accept that there are going to be ups and downs in the process, but we are clear where we want to go is more towards where we’ve been – Atletico Madrid, Ipswich – that’s more the style of football that we want.
“I think now the key is the consistency to perform like this.”
Key to finding that consistency will be balancing the demands of the fixture list as Liverpool compete on four fronts, with struggling Tottenham visiting Anfield on Tuesday night in the Carabao Cup.
Iraola is expected to make sweeping changes but said he is still learning which of his players can handle the rigours of playing every three days and who needs more careful management.
“There are players who play every three days, they have no issues, they are very robust,” he said.
“They can accept it and their performances don’t change too much. And there are other players where the risk is bigger, the performances are different.
“I have to learn who is ready to play three, four games in a row every two, three days and who needs a rest so the performance level doesn’t get affected.
“I have it in my mind quite clear with some of them, but with others it is new even for them because they haven’t played as many games and we are learning…
“If you ask me how…Jeremy Jacquet is going to deal with playing every three days during two months, I don’t know because he hasn’t done it.”
Joe Gomez is in contention to make his first appearance of the season, having returned to training following the muscle injury suffered in pre-season.
But Northern Ireland right-back Conor Bradley remains some way off a return following a long-term knee injury.
“I think he is not close to training with the team,” Iraola said. “He’s training alone, but he has started touching the ball.
“Definitely I want him as quick as possible ready, but it’s a long-term injury.
“I think (Giovanni) Leoni is a little bit ahead of him and still it’s going to take some time for Conor.”