Anfield, intensity, rotation – how Iraola is improving Liverpool
Liverpool have won nine and drawn three of their 13 matches under Andoni Iraola, and head into Sunday’s meeting with Arsenal on a five-game winning run. The match will test how far Liverpool have progressed and could reshape the title gap: a win would put them three points behind Arsenal, while a defeat would leave them nine points adrift.
Anfield’s atmosphere has lifted as results have improved, with recent wins over Brighton and Chelsea adding to the momentum. Iraola has made at least three changes to the starting line-up in nine consecutive games and plans to keep rotating as Liverpool manage a demanding schedule. His side are also playing more long balls than last season, while averaging more high pressures and sprints per league game.
In short
- Liverpool arrive on a five-game winning run under Iraola.
- A win would put them three points behind Arsenal.
- Rotation and a more direct, intense style are shaping Liverpool’s progress.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Iraola’s rotation and higher-intensity approach may be helping Liverpool sustain strong results through a demanding run of fixtures, while giving more players meaningful roles. The recent winning streak and improved atmosphere at Anfield suggest the changes are building confidence, and the Arsenal match offers a chance to close the title gap.
The case against
The early results may not yet show whether the approach can deliver consistently across a full season, and frequent line-up changes could disrupt combinations or make performances less predictable. Liverpool’s greater reliance on long balls and intense pressing may also carry costs, while the Arsenal match could expose weaknesses that a winning run has not yet tested.
Explained simply
Liverpool are one of English football’s leading clubs, and Anfield is their home ground. Andoni Iraola is the team’s manager, responsible for choosing the line-up and how the side plays; rotating means changing players between matches to manage a busy schedule.
The Premier League is England’s top division, where clubs play each other across the season and the team with the most points wins the title. Arsenal are among Liverpool’s rivals near the top of the table, so their meeting matters to both clubs’ position in the race.