Iraola sees Liverpool improving, but not yet at the level he wants

“We are on the right path… but we are not yet where we want to be,” Iraola said of Liverpool. His assessment captures the current stage of the project: the coach sees tangible signs of progress, but does not believe his team has reached the level he is seeking. Premier League figures offer some measures of that development. Liverpool rank fourth for allowing opponents the fewest passes per sequence, at 9.9; third for the distance from their own goal at which they recover the ball, at 43.6 metres; and fifth for high regains after losing possession, with 56.

Andoni Iraola’s appointment signalled an ambition to bring back the “Rock & Klopp” spirit associated with Anfield. On arrival, he set out the challenge facing him: “I understand where I am and what is expected of me. I am ready for the challenge.” He also said he wanted to give supporters a team they could be proud of. For him, football at Liverpool is about connecting with the public and building a side that is “hard-working, intense, aggressive and direct”, one people can identify with.

The style he advocated at Bournemouth is now being introduced gradually at Liverpool. Iraola also stressed how a match changed after Gravenberch was sent off: “We played two different games: one up to the red card, and another afterwards. The players deserve credit because they gave everything.” On Liverpool’s Premier League performances, he admitted he did not know the reason for the difference he had observed: “We are not scoring at that level and, probably, we are also defending better.”

The work is not starting from scratch: quality was already present in the squad. Patience is part of Iraola’s approach; he needed time at Bournemouth to establish his model. Last season, he also helped several major signings make progress. Jacquet and Araújo have settled quickly at Anfield, while Barcola is beginning to justify the 125 million paid to PSG.

Liverpool drew three times against Newcastle, Nottingham Forest and Fulham in its first five Premier League fixtures, then saw its unbeaten run at Anfield, dating back to early January, end against Manchester City. A comparison of Liverpool’s 26-27 and 25-26 style radars also reflects the direction of change. Since then, Marca reports five consecutive wins in all competitions, including matches against Brentford, Villarreal, Brighton and Chelsea, who were eliminated on penalties in the Carabao round of 16. Marca says Anfield had not seen such a run for more than a year. After the victory over the team nicknamed the Blues, Iraola spoke of feeling unity within the squad and wanting the supporters’ backing to continue.

The next meeting with Arsenal will offer another test of Liverpool’s improvement. Marca says the Reds will go into it after those five wins. Arsenal have conceded just five Premier League goals, the lowest total, and come into the fixture after their Carabao exit. That makes Iraola’s assessment especially pertinent: the signs are improving, but the next match will provide another measure of how far his team has come.