Iraola's first season at Anfield, animated. Big matches get a full animated analysis; every match gets its score, xG and a graded prediction.
Tap a highlighted match to open its analysis. The dashed card at the end is the next match's preview.
Liverpool are unbeaten under Iraola but still haven't won a league game at Anfield. Man City arrive with five wins from five, and without Foden.
Liverpool win 32% · draw 24% · Manchester City win 44%. Expected goals 1.42–1.69.
Liverpool have created 11.82 xG and scored 12 in 7 games. Opponents: 9.27 xG, 6 goals. In the league, 9 points from 5 games against 8.3 expected.
| # | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester City | 5 | +8 | 15 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 5 | +4 | 12 |
| 3 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 5 | +11 | 10 |
| 4 | Brentford | 5 | +6 | 9 |
| 5 | Leeds United | 5 | +4 | 9 |
| 6 | Liverpool | 5 | +3 | 9 |
Bars: expected goals (xG) created. Rings: actual goals. ■ Liverpool ■ Opponent
Solid: actual goals. Dashed: xG. Liverpool in the team colour, opponents in the contrast colour.
Expected points: the points the chances deserved, from each Premier League match's xG.
| Date | Comp | Opponent | Score | xG | W / D / L from the chances | Verdict | Pre-match model |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Aug | PL | Newcastle United | 2–2 | 2.98–1.58 | 66% / 16% / 18% | Points dropped | – |
| 29 Aug | PL | Nottingham Forest | 2–2 | 1.75–2.30 | 30% / 20% / 50% | Fair | – |
| 4 Sep | PL | Ipswich Town | 2–0 | 0.69–0.75 | 29% / 38% / 33% | Fortunate | – |
| 9 Sep | UCL | Atlético de Madrid | 2–1 | 1.62–0.91 | 54% / 25% / 21% | Deserved | – |
| 12 Sep | PL | Fulham | 0–0 | 1.28–0.70 | 50% / 29% / 20% | Points dropped | – |
| 15 Sep | EFL | Tottenham Hotspur | 3–1 | 1.85–2.24 | 33% / 20% / 47% | Fortunate | – |
| 20 Sep | PL | AFC Bournemouth | 1–0 | 1.65–0.79 | 58% / 24% / 18% | Deserved | – |
“W / D / L from the chances” replays each match with the same xG using a Poisson model. xG: FotMob (Opta) for every match. Priors: 2025/26 xG/xGA from StatMuse (59.25 / 47.02 in 38 games); goals from the final table (63–53).
Seven games in, Iraola's Liverpool have won four and drawn three in all competitions. In the league that is two wins and three draws, nine points, sixth place and six behind Man City. Opta notes he is the first Liverpool manager since Joe Fagan in 1983 to go unbeaten in his first five league games. The last three league games (Ipswich, Fulham, Bournemouth) were all clean sheets, after four goals conceded in the first two.
The results hide some rough starts. Newcastle scored with their first shot after five minutes and Liverpool needed a Szoboszlai penalty nine minutes into stoppage time to draw. Forest led twice at Anfield, and NBC Sports' live report called Liverpool lucky to draw. Atlético went ahead in the 17th minute before Szoboszlai and Mac Allister turned it round. Liverpool went behind in three of the seven games. The comebacks show character, but they also show a press that the players are still learning.
The odd part is Anfield. Liverpool have won both cup games there (Atlético 2–1, Tottenham 3–1) but neither league game (Forest 2–2, Fulham 0–0). After Fulham, Iraola put it down to tired legs three days after Atlético. The attack also leans on two players. Isak has four of the seven league goals, and Gakpo scored at Newcastle, set up both goals at Ipswich and scored against Tottenham. Both came back injured from international duty, and Ekitike is still out with the Achilles injury he suffered in April.
Second best for 25 minutes, Iraola beats his old club with a half-time fix and an Isak tap-in.
1 goal animated · tactic breakdown · column → EFLLiverpool · 15 SepLiverpool 3–1 Tottenham HotspurTen changes, less of the ball and less xG: Liverpool's energy, two long-range strikes and Mamardashvili's saves beat Tottenham Hotspur.
4 goals animated · tactic breakdown · column → PLLiverpool · 12 SepLiverpool 0–0 FulhamSixty-odd hours after Atlético de Madrid, Liverpool arrive late to every press and Fulham leave Anfield with their first point.
0 goals animated · tactic breakdown · column → UCLLiverpool · 9 SepLiverpool 2–1 Atlético de MadridCaught out by a back five nobody expected, Liverpool adjust, press harder and come from behind again.
3 goals animated · tactic breakdown · column → PLLiverpool · 4 SepIpswich Town 0–2 LiverpoolTwo Gakpo passes, two Isak goals in nine minutes: Iraola's first win comes from the press, not from control.
2 goals animated · tactic breakdown · column → PLLiverpool · 29 AugLiverpool 2–2 Nottingham ForestLiverpool have 69% of the ball, Nottingham Forest have the better chances, and Liverpool twice come from behind to draw.
4 goals animated · tactic breakdown · column → PLLiverpool · 23 AugNewcastle United 2–2 Liverpool27 shots, 2.98 xG and a penalty in the 99th minute: Iraola's first Liverpool side attack well, but two counter-attacks nearly cost them.
4 goals animated · tactic breakdown · column →Every diagram plays on a loop like a short GIF: the dots are players moving, the white ball travels with the play, and lines trace where the ball and the runners went. Goal diagrams show the scoring team attacking up the page. Use Pause to freeze any moment. Diagrams are reconstructions from match reports and analysis, not tracking data, so positions are approximate.
Facts (line-ups, minutes, stats, quotes) are cross-checked across at least two outlets where possible. xG sources are named in the notes above and in each match. Tactical claims are credited to the outlet that made them. YouTube analyses are linked, not transcribed. Everything under Column is our own analysis.