Liverpool's Unbeaten Start: A Puzzle for Iraola

Andoni Iraola did not try to dress it up. Liverpool, still unbeaten, are already living what he calls the “worst scenario” of their season.

A summer of upheaval, a new head coach, a new way of playing – and now a schedule that refuses to slow down.

Unbeaten, but stuck in gear

Liverpool’s start to the 2026/27 campaign is not a crisis, but it is a puzzle. Four Premier League games, three draws, and a goalless stalemate at Anfield against Fulham that felt like a step backwards rather than a platform.

The numbers say they haven’t lost. The mood says they haven’t really got going.

Tottenham arrive on Tuesday night in the Carabao Cup, and that tie has become more than an early-season cup outing. For Iraola, it’s a chance to reset the tone – and to find out a little more about the squad he inherited.

He has already decided on one big call.

Mamardashvili to start, Alisson rests

Alisson Becker remains the undisputed No.1. Iraola made that clear. But he also made clear that this is the moment to turn to Giorgi Mamardashvili.

“Yes. Alisson is proven, there are little doubts, he is playing very well,” Iraola told reporters, before quickly shifting the focus to his backup goalkeeper.

“I rate Giorgi very highly, I know him from his years also in Spain. We told him we tried to sign him for Bournemouth before I came here, he is a very good ‘keeper. He is going to start tomorrow.”

It is a calculated move. Protect Alisson in a brutal run of games. Test Mamardashvili in a high-stakes environment. Learn who he can trust when the games come in waves, not in gentle weekly steps.

Defensive picture: one back, two still out

The back line, already under scrutiny after a mixed set of early performances, is slowly starting to clear.

Joe Gomez is back in full training and, crucially, back in contention.

“Joe is training with the team and is available for tomorrow. It’s a matter of deciding how much he can play, or what the best thing is for him,” Iraola explained.

That is the good news. The rest is less encouraging.

Conor Bradley remains nowhere near a return to team training.

“He is not close to training with the team,” Iraola said. “He is training alone, but he has started touching the ball. Definitely I want him back as soon as possible.”

Leoni – another defensive option – is slightly further along, but still some way from being ready to contribute.

“Leoni is a little bit ahead of him and it is going to take some time for sure.”

So Liverpool head into a demanding stretch with Gomez easing back, two defenders still sidelined and the manager juggling minutes in real time.

‘Worst scenario’ for Iraola’s Liverpool

The real strain, though, is the calendar. Iraola did not hide behind clichés. He called it what it is.

“It’s the third game, it’s the worst scenario in terms of schedule, we haven’t been lucky,” he admitted.

Liverpool are locked into a pattern of playing every two or three days, with only the occasional breather.

“After this one we have a little bit more before we play Bournemouth, also we had a little bit more between Ipswich and Atletico and Atletico and Fulham and you noticed. Five days in comparison to two to three days is a massive difference.”

The rhythm of the season is already harsh. And it is about to get harsher.

“It is what it is. After the international break we have four games in ten days, so we have to get used to it.”

That sentence frames everything. Iraola knows he cannot simply pick his strongest XI and hope. Not in this stretch. Not with players still adapting to his demands.

“You can put the same players in every game. The problem is there will be a moment they are very tired and there is more risk of injury,” he said.

Some players can live with that load. Others cannot.

“But there are players who play every three days and have no issues, they can accept it and performances don’t change too much. Then there are other players where the risk is bigger and the performances are different.”

This is the heart of his early Liverpool tenure: discovery under pressure.

“And I am in a position where I have to learn who is ready to play every two or three days and who is ready to rest so their performance level doesn’t drop. I had an idea with some of them, but for some of them it is new as they haven’t played as many games and we are learning.”

The learning curve is steep. The margin for error, as Tottenham arrive and the games stack up, is shrinking fast.