The Athletic’s Andy Jones has provided the lowdown on Liverpool ahead of Brentford’s Premier League meeting with the Reds at Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday (3pm kick-off BST).
Liverpool went into the international break sixth in the Premier League and unbeaten, before suffering a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City on their return to action.
Jones discusses the early signs of progress under Andoni Iraola, the challenges facing the Reds during a demanding run of fixtures, and why, if fit, Cody Gakpo could be one of the players to watch this weekend.
Liverpool went into the international break sixth in the Premier League and unbeaten. What did you make of their start?
There have been clear signs of progression. I think that is the best way to describe it.
Ultimately, it has not been perfect but it has been positive.
They have changed manager since the end of last season and did business in the transfer window that has maybe left the squad slightly unbalanced, so if you had said they would be unbeaten by the international break, everybody would probably have shaken hands on that.
I am sure everyone would have wanted a few more wins in the league, particularly when you look at the fixture list, but there are a lot of signs of progression and it looks like the players are getting in tune with the manager and what he is asking of them.
The win against Bournemouth on 20 September was a big one. Liverpool did not play well and, if they had not won that one, it might have shaped how the first block was viewed.
But that was a big win and a big step forward because it was the type of game Liverpool would not have won last season.
There are a number of things pointing in the right direction, from both a collective and an individual standpoint.
What have the early impressions of Andoni Iraola been like and how has he been received?
Very, very well. He is someone the fans have instantly related to.
His first press conference was important in that he came in and talked the talk, and there have been periods in games where his team have walked the walk as well.
He is quite an unassuming guy and not necessarily this massive personality, and he has brought a level of calmness.
Whenever he speaks to the press, he explains exactly what he is thinking, how he thinks things are going and he is honest.
Last season was so all over the place, for a number of different reasons both on and off the pitch, that it was not the easiest job to take over. There were always going to be growing pains.
What has been really interesting is that he has constantly been happy to admit that he has got to prove he is at this level as it is the biggest job he has ever had.
That type of honesty has gone down well with Liverpool fans and the way he wants to play football, the style of play, is exactly what they want to see.
While we have not seen it all the time, all the way through every single game, the signs are there that the message is getting across and they are getting better.
The hope is that, post-international break, that will continue because there is a tough schedule. That will be a real test of exactly where they are.
"That type of honesty has gone down well with Liverpool fans and the way he wants to play football, the style of play, is exactly what they want to see"
With last season being the first in five without a trophy of any kind, what is a realistic target for Liverpool in 2026/27?
It is difficult to fully know yet, and the next stretch of games will really set up exactly where they are going to be and what their aspirations are.
Ultimately, the aim coming into this season, given the turmoil of last season, was to make sure they get into the top four and qualify for the Champions League.
That was the bare minimum, but that is the bare minimum every season.
A lot of fans took a step back in the summer and realised the club just needed to get things going in the right direction again, so I do not think the expectations are necessarily massive.
At a club like Liverpool, though, the expectation is to win.
We will find out if they are title challengers. They have not necessarily looked like it yet. If they can get results against the sides at the top of the table, they could set themselves up for a really successful season.
The expectation is always to go far in the Champions League, but it is also difficult to see, at the moment, if they would be able to beat some of the top, top powers in Europe because it is a new start and it is all still coming together.
Which player should Brentford fans be keeping an eye on on Saturday?
Last season this was quite difficult for differing reasons, but I would say Cody Gakpo at the moment, injury-permitting.
He was one of Liverpool’s poorer performers last season and he, himself, has admitted that he fell below the expectations he set for himself and the expectations of a player at a top club.
There was also a lot of speculation about his future in the summer and potential moves to Tottenham and Manchester City, but he has remained, and what has really been impressive has been his attitude throughout.
It has not impacted him at all.
He had a good World Cup with the Netherlands, then real heartbreak in his personal life at the same time, but since he has come back to Liverpool, he has been sensational.
He has been very focused, he looks refreshed and rejuvenated and he looks like he is enjoying his football, which he did not last season.
Liverpool are reaping the benefits of that as he has two goals and four assists in six games in all competitions.
He has struck up a really strong relationship with Alexander Isak and what has stood out is that he played primarily as a no.9 under Jurgen Klopp, on the left under Arne Slot, but Iraola has wanted to use all four of his wingers on both sides of the pitch and Gakpo has also been really good on the right.
He just looks really confident at the moment and it is really good to see.
If Liverpool had decided to sell him, they would be a worse team for it.
He is the most experienced forward at Liverpool now and that has never been the case for him, so he has really stepped up and taken on a leadership role in the attack.
If Gakpo is unable to feature, plenty of eyes will be on fellow winger Bradley Barcola.
Signed for big money this summer, it has been an unspectacular start to his Liverpool career as he adjusts to a new team and a new league.
There have been encouraging signs, though, and it feels like a big performance is just around the corner.
What should Keith Andrews’ men expect in terms of shape and style?
It is high tempo, high energy. They will look to be direct in possession and not necessarily look to play around the back. Iraola wants to be vertical, so he wants to play forward. That is the message in possession and out of possession. High press, suffocate the opposition.
He has played a 4-2-3-1 so far, which it looks like he is not going to shift from.
The back four has looked really settled since Ronald Araujo slipped into the right-back role.
Jeremy Jacquet, the summer signing, has been magnificent alongside Virgil van Dijk and Milos Kerkez has probably gone under the radar, but deserves praise as well.
In front of them, there will be the midfield pivot, with the strongest pair at the moment: Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister.
The latter is in a similar vein to Gakpo as someone who really struggled last season, but has certainly come back this season with the bit between his teeth and looks ideal for what Iraola wants from that position.
Like Gakpo, there is a bit of an injury concern with Isak, but if he is fit, he will start as basically the only senior no.9 Liverpool have got available.
Hugo Ekitike is injured and Lewis Koumas has got a chance and impressed, but he has not got the goalscoring instincts Isak has.
It will be interesting to see what Iraola does with the other three positions because they are more interchangeable.
Florian Wirtz has been the main man in that no.10 position, but there are a few question marks about his position in the team and his form as he has not started in the way people would have liked.
What’s your score prediction?
It is a tough away game for Liverpool as Brentford are excellent at home.
I think it will be a draw. I will go 1-1, but it could well be 2-2 depending on if there is an early goal.