There was a moment back in late August right around the time Nottingham Forest breached our backline for a second time in a chaotic 2-2 draw at Anfield when you could feel a collective, uneasy twitch across Merseyside "nothing changed".
An opening-day 2-2 draw at Newcastle United had already shown some alarming defensive teething problems. The early verdict from outside the club was predictable: Andoni Iraola's aggressive, front-foot system was leaving Liverpool far too open, and the transition from the previous era was going to be a long, painful slog.
Fast forward a few short weeks, and the narrative has shifted completely.
Alexander Isak and Jérémy Jacquet have both been shortlisted for September’s PFA Premier League Fans’ Player of the Month award after playing central roles in a dramatic defensive and tactical turnaround.
The Liverpool duo received nominations following an immaculate September in which the Reds took seven points from three league encounters all without conceding a single goal.
The nomination is a massive nod to the quiet revolution taking shape under Iraola. Liverpool took two wins and a draw from their three September fixtures a professional 2-0 victory at Ipswich Town, a hard-fought 0-0 draw with Fulham at Anfield, and a gritting 1-0 win away at Bournemouth, Iraola’s former stomping ground.
That run produced three consecutive league clean sheets and an impressive 322 minutes without conceding.
In doing so, Iraola became the first Liverpool manager to remain unbeaten through his first five league games since Joe Fagan back in September 1983. For a manager following in giant footsteps, grounding the team defensively while keeping an unbeaten record across all competitions is no small feat.
The recognition for both players feels particularly sweet given where things stood just months ago.
For Isak, this nomination represents a vital turning point. The Swedish international centre-forward arrived at Anfield under a cloud of immense scrutiny following his bitter and controversial £125 move then in his first season under former head coach Arne Slot he had no proper pre season which resulted in a horrific, injury-blighted first season on Merseyside after his big-money move.
Struggling for fitness and rhythm, he bore the brunt of intense social media criticism as Kopites wondered whether we would ever see the ruthless forward who previously lit up the top flight.
September was the answer we were all praying for. Isak was lethal, scoring three goals in three league appearances.
He set the tone at Ipswich with a lightning-quick double inside the opening 10 minutes before showing elite composure to strike a 57th-minute winner at Bournemouth.
The 27-year-old knows this award well, having previously won it with Newcastle United in March 2023 (taking 28 per cent of the vote) and again in December 2024. But winning it in a red shirt would mark his official redemption at Anfield.
At the other end of the pitch, Jacquet’s rise has been nothing short of staggering.
Following Ibrahima Konaté's summer departure to Real Madrid, Liverpool moved decisively to bring in the 21-year-old French defender from Stade Rennais in a £60 million deal in January the deal was struck but officially joined in July after suffering a shoulder injury half way through the campaign. What was expected to be a gradual transition for the young Frenchman quickly turned into a trial by fire, and Iraola’s faith has thrust him straight into the seamless transition.
Jacquet was an ever-present force at centre-back throughout September, displaying maturity way beyond his years.
Supporters voted the young Frenchman Liverpool’s Player of the Match in that tense win at Bournemouth, where he won possession six times and came out top in three of his four duels. His calmness on the ball and dominance in the air have given Liverpool's back four a sense of structural balance that was desperately lacking during those inconsistent August fixtures.
That sensational domestic form did not go unnoticed across the Channel. Following his magnificent displays in red, newly appointed manager Zinadine Zidane handed the 21-year-old his senior international debut for France during the three week October international window.
However, just as Jacquet’s dream week reached it's cruel end. The French Football Federation confirmed that Jacquet felt hamstring discomfort after making an otherwise flawless senior debut. The young Frenchman suffered a strain to his left hamstring, immediately putting his availability for Liverpool's upcoming fixtures in serious doubt.
Seeing three primary options in attack and defence return with fitness questions creates a massive headache for the coaching staff ahead of a pivotal month.
The Liverpool pair face competition for the PFA prize.
The shortlist includes Pascal Groß and Charalampos Kostoulas from Brighton, Kevin Schade of Brentford, and Antoine Semenyo from Manchester City. Groß recorded two goals and three assists in three league games for the Seagulls and has already picked up the Premier League’s official Player of the Month award for September becoming the first Brighton player to win it.
Semenyo racked up two goals and two assists as City won all three of their matches, while Schade netted twice to keep Brentford unbeaten.
Yet, regardless of who takes home the trophy, the timing of Isak and Jacquet’s form and the anxiety over Jacquet's recovery could not be more critical for Iraola and Liverpool.
As October begins, Iraola’s initial bedding-in period is officially over. He is rapidly learning which players he can trust, but the impending fixture pile-up will test the depth of his squad to the absolute limit.
Following the international break, Liverpool face a gruelling schedule six matches across three different competitions in just 17 days.
With high-stakes encounters coming thick and fast on both domestic and European fronts starting with the visit of Manchester City to Anfield.
From a fan's perspective, we spent August wondering how long this transition would take. September proved that Iraola’s ideas are taking shape, but as the injuries pile up during the international break, Kopites will once again be holding their breath ahead of a defining 17-day stretch.
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