Liverpool's New Era Begins Under Iraola at Anfield

Anfield braces for a new era at Saturday lunchtime, with Liverpool stepping out under Andoni Iraola at home for the first time in the Premier League.

The opponent is Nottingham Forest, led by Oliver Glasner, but the spotlight falls squarely on the Basque coach and how his reshaped Liverpool will respond after an opening-day stumble.

Iraola’s Anfield bow

Liverpool’s season began with a scrappy 2-2 draw at Newcastle, a performance that mixed flashes of promise with familiar early-season rust. That point keeps the Reds ticking over, but it does little to satisfy a fanbase eager to see what Iraola’s high-intensity blueprint really looks like on home turf.

This is his first competitive game in the Anfield dugout. It carries weight. The Kop will want more than just noise; they will want a statement.

Bold call in attack

Iraola has wasted no time in making a big decision. Munoz is thrown straight into the starting XI, a bold selection that pushes Rio Ngumoha down to the bench. It’s a clear message: places are up for grabs, reputations alone won’t protect anyone.

Munoz joins a frontline loaded with craft and firepower. Cody Gakpo keeps his place despite intense transfer noise around him, with Tottenham circling and speculation swirling over his long-term future. Today, though, he remains central to Liverpool’s plans.

Gakpo, Munoz, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak form a formidable attacking unit. On paper, that quartet offers everything: movement between the lines, pace in behind, and a clinical edge. On the pitch, Anfield expects them to pin Forest back and turn possession into goals.

Jacquet trusted as injuries bite

Behind them, Iraola sticks with youth and authority at centre-back. Jeremy Jacquet, the highly rated young defender, retains his spot and again lines up alongside captain Virgil van Dijk. That pairing gives Liverpool a blend of composure and aggression, with loan signing Ronald Araujo again forced to watch on from the bench.

It comes at a time when Liverpool’s defensive options are stretched. Joe Gomez is still out with a muscle issue, while Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley continue their recovery from knee injuries. Those absences tighten the margins at the back and make Jacquet’s role even more significant.

Up front, the injury list has its own headline name. Hugo Ekitike remains in rehabilitation after a serious Achilles injury suffered in April. His absence strips Iraola of another striking option and heaps more responsibility on the shoulders of Isak and Gakpo.

Momentum on the line

Glasner brings Forest to Merseyside looking for a foothold in the new campaign, but Liverpool’s need feels sharper. A draw at Newcastle can be spun as a platform. Fail to win at Anfield, and questions arrive quickly for any new manager, however fresh the project.

The stage is set: a new coach on home soil, a reshuffled attack, a patched-up defence, and a fanbase ready to judge what this Liverpool side really is under Iraola.

Now they have to show it.