While Liverpool’s start to the season hasn’t been perfect, it has been steady, with several positives and a few negatives for Iraola to dissect over the international break.
Although it hasn’t mirrored the 15-point start that saw Arne Slot’s Reds burst out of the blocks at the start of last season, the warning signs that came with that unsustainable late-scoring spree are also less apparent this campaign.
Iraola’s unbeaten start at Liverpool has been built on defensive solidity, with many of the new signings impressing, none more than Liverpool’s new French defender.
Jeremy Jacquet
The biggest compliment I could pay the 21-year-old is that I’m yet to see someone say that they miss Ibrahima Konaté, who was a mainstay in Liverpool’s defence for the last five seasons.
Liverpool’s new £60m steal has been playing with all the composure of a seasoned pro, with headers, tackles and a calmness on the ball that we usually associate with the man he’s been playing alongside.
While Liverpool’s defensive depth was questioned at the start of the season, this lad’s performances will have brought a few sighs of relief in the boardroom, leaving that position looking much stronger moving forward.
Virgil van Dijk
While his defensive partner has been receiving the plaudits, Liverpool’s captain has been quietly re-finding the levels that we associated with him at the peak of his powers.
The Dutchman’s drop-off last season aligned with a general squad dip, but so far this season he’s looked like a man reborn and ready to lead Liverpool to trophies.
At 35 years old there may have been concerns that last season’s decline could have been a permanent one, but his swagger, athleticism and defending shown so far this campaign suggest otherwise.
Entering the last year of his contract, these performances are giving the Liverpool hierarchy a real decision to make, as they won’t want to lose a player who’s playing at the Dutchman’s current level.
Ronald Araujo
With three Premier League clean sheets in a row coming into the international break, it’s no surprise it’s another member of Liverpool’s back four getting my recognition.
When Liverpool signed Barcelona’s captain on loan, most people’s first thought was “hang on a minute, what’s the catch here?”
And after watching him play, I’m still thinking exactly that. He must be a nightmare in the changing rooms, because on the pitch he’s an absolute colossus.
Headers, tackles, random 100-yard sprints to close down the goalkeeper – the lad does it all. He’s slotted in fantastically at right-back, with Liverpool fans already demanding the club triggers the option to buy. We’ve got another mad Uruguayan on our hands.
Alexis Mac Allister
Liverpool’s worst performance of the season came at Newcastle on the opening day – Alexis Mac Allister started on the bench. Liverpool’s second-worst performance of the season came in the first half against Fulham – Alexis Mac Allister was on the bench.
Pretty much everything Liverpool have done well this campaign has come through him, and when he’s not there, it’s noticeable.
His transformation to a ball-playing defensive midfielder has been one of the most interesting sub-plots to the Iraola era, but it’s working a treat.
The Argentine adds a level of defensive discipline and progressive passing that the Reds lack in his absence, and he’s going to be a huge part of Iraola’s team this season.
Cody Gakpo
The Liverpool hierarchy considering selling Cody Gakpo to pursue Ismaila Sarr becomes more questionable every time the Dutchman steps onto the pitch this season.
Two goals and four assists already this campaign, the 27-year-old leads the charts for goal contributions at the club this term, having excelled both off the left and the right in the opening six games.
What’s been most refreshing to see, however, is the relationship he’s struck up with Liverpool’s record signing Alexander Isak.
Gakpo has created all four of the Swede’s goals this season, and while he will only receive the official assist for three, Isak’s latest strike at Bournemouth was also down to Gakpo’s excellent wing play.
Hopefully the start of a deadly Premier League partnership for the Reds.
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