Nobody needs reminding of what happened last season. The 2025/26 campaign was, to put it mildly, a turbulent affair a year marked by tactical friction, injuries, and a collective sense that Anfield had temporarily lost it's spark.
Which brings us to September 2026.
If anyone had suggested during the darkest moments of last winter that Liverpool would sweep the Premier League award shortlists before autumn truly set in, they’d have been met with a weary shake of the head. Yet here we are.
With Alexander Isak and Jérémy Jacquet both nominated for Premier League Player of the Month, Andoni Iraola up for Manager of the Month, and Under-21s forward Will Wright earning a Premier League 2 nod, the recognition coming out of key offices in London feels less like individual acclaim and more like a collective sigh of relief for supporters.
It suggests that Iraola’s project is not just taking shape it’s firing at both ends of the pitch.
Isak finds his feet while Jacquet demands attention
For Isak, the nomination represents the pleasure of patience. The Sweden international arrived carrying the sort of price tag that guarantees instant scrutiny if he isn't getting any assists or goals. Injuries wiped out any real chance of building momentum last term, leaving fans wondering when the real Alexander Isak would step forward.
Three games and three goals in September including the clinical 1-0 winner at Bournemouth before the international break have provided the answer. He looks sharper, stronger, and, crucially, aligned with what Iraola wants from his central striker.
At the other end, Jérémy Jacquet’s inclusion is perhaps the most telling indicator of how quickly things can change in football. Arriving quietly from Rennes in the summer although the £60m deal was agreed in January, the 21-year-old was viewed as one for the future. Instead, he has played every single minute of Premier League football this month alongside Virgil van Dijk and Liverpool haven't conceded a goal since August.
A senior France call-up under Zinedine Zidane has capped off a whirlwind four weeks for the youngster. It’s early days, of course, but the partnership at the back looks far more stable than the makeshift defensive lines that cost the Reds so dearly last year.
What It means for the fans
Awards don't guarantee silverware, and nobody at the AXA Training Centre will be getting carried away with shortlists in September. But for a fanbase that endured months of uncertainty, these nominations matter.
They offer proof that the club has stopped dropping points and started building something cohesive again. Iraola’s nomination for Manager of the Month alongside Fabian Hürzeler and Enzo Maresca rewards three straight clean sheets and a clear tactical identity that was painfully absent 12 months ago.
Down at Academy level, Will Wright's five goals in four PL2 games hint at a pathway that continues to produce.
There is a long road ahead, and October will present its own set of stern tests once the international break clears. But after the storm of 2025/26, the green arrows are finally visible.
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