Arsenal arrives at Anfield on Sunday aiming to overturn a winless drought at the historic venue that stretches back to 2012. Back then, current Gunners manager Mikel Arteta featured as a player on the pitch; today, he leads the reigning Premier League champions into a fixture against a Liverpool side that is beginning to find its rhythm under manager Andoni Iraola.
Following their sole defeat of the campaign against Manchester City on October 11, the Reds have put together a five-match winning streak across all competitions—their longest such run since the opening phase of last season under Arne Slot. Sunday’s fixture arrives at the end of a difficult week for Arsenal, who suffered a Carabao Cup exit at the hands of League Two side Fleetwood, giving Liverpool an opening to signal its resurgence to the rest of the Premier League.
While former defender Jamie Carragher has tipped Liverpool as the primary challenger to Arsenal’s title defense, Iraola dismissed the early table talk during his Friday press conference. Even so, the match serves as a crucial barometer of progress under the Basque coach. A victory would pull Liverpool within three points of the league leaders, whereas defeat would stretch the gap to nine points after nine matches.
A significant shift in recent weeks has been the revival of the Anfield atmosphere. After a stagnant period last season, the connection between supporters and players has visibly strengthened. Dramatic comeback wins against Villarreal, a solid league victory over Brighton, and a penalty shootout triumph over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup have restored confidence around the club. “We have a big advantage over other teams because this atmosphere we can create is special,” Iraola noted.
Squad integration is also starting to pay dividends. High-profile additions such as Alexander Isak, Bradley Barcola, and Florian Wirtz are gaining momentum, while Cody Gakpo and Alexis Mac Allister have elevated their output compared to last term. Defensively, Ronald Araujo has quickly won over supporters, and Jeremy Jacquet has adapted seamlessly to the English top flight. Iraola has also shown a growing willingness to trust academy prospects, utilizing youngsters including Rio Ngumoha, Trey Nyoni, Lewis Koumas, and James McConnell.
Managing two games a week has required tactical and physical adjustments, prompting Iraola to make three or more starting XI changes in nine consecutive matches. Reflecting on his rotation strategy, Iraola explained that while his direct coaching experience for a mid-week European schedule was initially limited, his playing days provided insight into recovery. “It’s different to managing, but you do a lot of the job with the analysts, in the video room with the board and without spending the legs,” he said, adding that managing physical load and freshening legs remains the primary focus.
Tactically, Iraola places less emphasis on total possession and more on chance creation. During a 2-0 victory against Brighton where Liverpool held just 35.6% of the ball, the team adopted a more direct approach. The side is averaging 24.9 long balls per Premier League match this campaign, up from 21 last season. Physical metrics also reflect a higher defensive workload: high pressures in the opposition half have risen to 165.9 per game from 160.1, and sprints have increased to 128.3 from 123.2, though overall distance covered has dropped marginally from 111.7km to 111.1km per match.
Captain Virgil van Dijk offered insight into the stylistic transformation, pointing to heightened intensity, controlled chaos, and calculated risk-reward dynamics. “If we press high, I ended up at one point almost putting Cody in one versus one on goal when I intercepted the ball on the right-hand side—when I’m a left centre-back,” Van Dijk explained. He acknowledged that while the high-pressing system carries vulnerabilities, rigorous training is helping the squad manage those risks.
Despite the positive momentum, Iraola arrived late to his Friday media briefing after training ran long and insisted that “there has to be another level” from his squad. If Liverpool can unlock that next tier starting Sunday against the champions, discussions surrounding a legitimate title challenge are bound to intensify.
