Iraola’s Anfield Debut: Liverpool Aims for Redemption Against Nottingham Forest
Andoni Iraola walks out at Anfield for the first time as Liverpool manager on Saturday, and there’s no gentle introduction. Nottingham Forest, the side that embarrassed Liverpool 3-0 in this fixture last season, are back on Merseyside with a new coach and a point to prove of their own.
This isn’t just another early-season fixture. It already feels like a temperature check on Liverpool’s new era.
Liverpool’s Numbers Strong, Doubts Louder
The 2-2 draw at Newcastle United on the opening weekend left a sour taste. Liverpool were accused of lacking their trademark edge: not enough aggression with the ball, not enough cohesion without it. Questions flew at Iraola about intensity, structure, and whether this squad truly fits his ideas.
Yet the data told a different story. Liverpool generated an xG of 3.13 at St James’ Park – the second-highest figure of the Premier League’s opening round. They carved chances. They just didn’t kill the game.
That’s why Saturday matters. It’s not just about three points; it’s about proving that performance can finally match potential.
The £100 million move for Bradley Barcola looks set to arrive too late for this one, so Iraola will lean on the same core that started at Newcastle. That could mean changes in the attacking midfield roles: Rio Ngumoha and Florian Wirtz were both withdrawn on 63 minutes last weekend and may step aside for Alexis Mac Allister and Victor Munoz, who offer different profiles and more control in tight spaces.
On the right flank of the defence, Jeremie Frimpong has already become a lightning rod. His display at Newcastle drew heavy criticism, but Iraola has precious few alternatives at right back. The Basque coach may be forced to back him again and hope the structure around him protects the team better than it did a week ago.
What he cannot afford is a repeat of last season’s collapse against Forest at Anfield. That 3-0 defeat still lingers.
Forest Reeling, Glasner Defiant
Forest arrive under a new man: Oliver Glasner, a coach with an FA Cup, Conference League, and Charity Shield on his CV. The pedigree is there, but the start has been brutal.
Two games against Leeds United. Two defeats. A 1-0 loss at the City Ground in the Premier League opener, followed three days later by a 2-0 home defeat to the same opponent in the League Cup. Same venue, same opponent, same frustrations.
Glasner has already been clear: he’s “no messiah.” The message is simple – this will take time, and Forest’s issues run deeper than one man in the dugout.
He must also juggle early injuries. Ryan Yates and Nicola Savona are both sidelined, trimming his options in key areas and limiting how boldly he can set up at Anfield.
Injuries Bite, But Liverpool’s New Core Holds
Liverpool’s medical room is still busy. Hugo Ekitike and Conor Bradley remain weeks away from returning, while defenders Giovanni Leoni and Joe Gomez are also unavailable. Last season, that kind of defensive absentee list would have sent alarm bells ringing.
This time, there is a little more calm.
Summer signings Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo looked assured at St James’ Park. They gave Liverpool a sturdier base than much of last campaign, when injuries ripped through the back line and destabilised everything in front of it. If they back that up with another composed performance, Iraola’s defensive rebuild will feel less like theory and more like reality.
What Liverpool really need, though, is a clean sheet and a convincing attacking display in the same 90 minutes. That combination would muffle the early doubts, settle the crowd, and give Iraola something concrete to build on.
Odds, Expectations, and Early-Season Pressure
The bookmakers still trust the home side. bet365 price Liverpool at 11/20 (1.55) to win, with Forest out at 19/4 (5.75). On paper, it’s a game Liverpool should control. On the pitch, the scars of last season and the teething problems of a new regime make it far more intriguing.
Anfield will demand a response – not just a result, but a performance that looks like a statement of intent.
Liverpool are expected to win. The real question is whether they can start to look like a team ready to chase something bigger than that.
