Andoni Iraola’s arrival at Anfield marked the beginning of a distinct tactical shift following the departure of Arne Slot after a disappointing 2025-26 campaign. Bringing backroom assistants Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper from Bournemouth, the Basque manager faces an immediate rebuilding task that former boss Jürgen Klopp noted will require good fortune to succeed long-term. Iraola’s opening games have offered sharp contrasts in performance. Liverpool kicked off pre-season with a victory over Sunderland in Nashville, featuring goals from Dominik Szoboszlai, Federico Chiesa, and Kieran Morrison alongside strong displays from young center-backs Mor Talla Ndiaye and Ifeanyi Ndukwe. However, defensive frailties surfaced when the Reds surrendered two-goal leads against both Leeds in a 4-2 defeat in Chicago and Monaco in a 3-2 loss at Anfield, despite early goals from Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz.
The recent 2-2 draw against Newcastle further highlighted structural issues within Iraola’s setup, where Liverpool required a late Szoboszlai penalty to salvage a result. The primary challenge lies in the central midfield balance. Iraola deployed a trio of Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, and Wirtz, yet all three players naturally push forward into attacking central spaces. Without a disciplined holding midfielder anchoring the unit, the back line remains unprotected during transitions. This positional congestion directly impacted attacking fluency, leaving center-forward Isak with more total touches than playmaker Wirtz, who struggled to find space between Newcastle’s defensive lines.
Defensive selections remain constrained by physical readiness and injuries across the squad. With Joe Gomez suffering an injury setback and Giovanni Leoni continuing his recovery from an ACL tear, Iraola has been forced to adapt his rear guard. Young defender Jeremy Jacquet turned in a sensational debut alongside Barcelona loan signee Ronald Araujo in a victory over Como at Anfield, prompting Iraola to note that the team is progressing week by week. Elsewhere, Jeremie Frimpong showed visible signs of fatigue at right-back, while academy prospects face varying timelines for integration. While Trey Nyoni continues his development, Rio Ngumoha demonstrated technical quality but looks far better suited for late-game impact roles after the 70th minute rather than starting berths.
Despite the structural concerns, individual revivals offer encouragement for the campaign ahead. Cody Gakpo, who struggled to find consistency under the previous management system last season, has emerged as a key focal point through his tactical flexibility across the left wing, right wing, number 10, and central striker roles. Alongside new arrival Victor Munoz, who made his debut off the bench against Monaco, Iraola possesses versatile attacking weapons. The focus now turns to refining midfield discipline and defensive cohesion as Liverpool finalize their preparations for the upcoming Premier League schedule.
