Liverpool's trip from Arsenal could reveal if Iraola's revival is real
Liverpool arrive at this weekend's meeting with Arsenal having won their last five games, but a lingering question still hangs over Anfield: are they genuine title contenders, or simply a much improved side still finding its ceiling?
According to WhoScored, writing for the Guardian, Andoni Iraola's side have rebuilt an identity that disappeared under Arne Slot last season, but their underlying numbers suggest there is still work to do before they can be considered true challengers to Arsenal and Manchester City.
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Liverpool sit fourth in the Premier League, a point behind Brighton and six adrift of the Gunners and City. A win at Anfield this weekend would cut that gap to three points. The club have also won all three of their Champions League group games so far, sitting third in the 36 team table.
A side rebuilt from the ground up
Last season under Slot, Liverpool conceded 53 goals, their worst defensive return since 1993-94, and shipped eight goals after the 90th minute while picking up just five points from losing positions. The report notes that “in the last days of Arne Slot's time in charge, their problems could not be solved by moving one piece on a tactics board. They had lost their identity and intensity.”
Under Iraola, that has changed. Liverpool have kept clean sheets in half of their league games this season, with a settled back line of Ronald Araújo, Virgil van Dijk, Jérémy Jacquet and Milos Kerkez providing the platform for a pressing, transition based approach built around Alexander Isak, who has six league goals, second only to Erling Haaland in the race for the golden boot.
The fight has returned too. Liverpool have already matched last season's entire tally of points won from losing positions, coming from behind to beat both Brentford and Villarreal in the last fortnight, and they are yet to drop points from a winning position all season.
The goals problem
Despite the resurgence, Liverpool have scored just 11 goals in eight league games, fewer than eight other Premier League teams, and have created only six big chances, the second worst total in the division behind Coventry. By comparison, Manchester City have created 28.
Part of that is down to the way teams set up against them. Liverpool face low blocks more often than most sides and rarely get to play against opponents willing to build from the back, blunting a team designed to break at pace. Only one of their 11 fast breaks this season has produced a goal. Florian Wirtz, signed for more than £100m alongside Bradley Barcola and Isak, has created plenty but rarely the decisive pass, though he has registered two Premier League assists for Víctor Muñoz and one for Barcola in Europe.
Arsenal's visit is expected to present a different kind of test. Arteta's side are likely to push high and look to play in Liverpool's half, leaving exactly the kind of space in behind that Iraola's side have struggled to find against deeper blocks. How Liverpool handle that scenario at Anfield should offer a clearer picture of whether their revival under Iraola translates into genuine title credentials.
