Liverpool’s Defensive Questions Face an Early Examination Against Forest

Andoni Iraola gets his first look at a home Premier League crowd this Saturday when Nottingham Forest arrive at Anfield, and in our view this fixture tells us far more about where this rebuilt Liverpool squad actually stands than the opening day trip to Newcastle did. A point salvaged through a stoppage time penalty was not the platform anyone wanted, and there is no disguising that the questions raised in that game have not gone away.

A Shaky Start At Newcastle

Twenty seven shots at St James Park told its own story about intent going forward, and the introduction of Victor Munoz from the bench offered a genuine glimpse of the directness Iraola is trying to build into this side. That much was encouraging. What was far less convincing was the shape without the ball. Liverpool had no recognised holding midfielder to shield a defence that kept getting caught out in transition, and the space left behind the advancing full backs was there for Newcastle to exploit repeatedly.

That imbalance, attacking ambition running well ahead of defensive control, is the single biggest issue facing Iraola right now, and we do not think it gets papered over just because the visitors this weekend are newly promoted under their own new coach.

The Forward Line Still Finding Its Feet

Florian Wirtz will again be trusted in the number ten role after a first competitive outing that never quite clicked, and Alexander Isak will be desperate for more service having barely had a sniff against his old club. Cody Gakpo needs a much stronger showing than his opening day effort, particularly with Bradley Barcola reportedly closing in on a move that would add another body up front, even if he will not be involved this weekend.

Munoz pushed himself into contention with that cameo off the bench, while Rio Ngumoha remains an option capable of adding unpredictability, even if he may be better served starting this one from the bench rather than from the off. What Liverpool need above all from this front line is relationships built through minutes together, and there simply has not been enough time for that yet given how late the rebuild started.

How Iraola Might Line Up

Expect something close to the shape used at Newcastle. Alisson starts in goal behind a back line of Jeremie Frimpong at right back, Jeremy Jacquet and Virgil van Dijk in the centre and Milos Kerkez on the left. Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai are likely to be paired in central midfield again, which is precisely the pairing that struggled to protect the back four last time out. Munoz, Wirtz and Gakpo support Isak in attack, on paper an exciting group, but one still missing a natural screen in front of the defence, and that is the piece of the puzzle Iraola has not yet solved.

Anyone hoping for wholesale changes to fix the midfield issue in one week is likely to be disappointed. Iraola has been consistent in saying his squad needs time to adapt to a demanding physical approach, and swapping personnel this early risks disrupting combinations that are only just beginning to form. The alternative, adjusting the structure rather than the names on the team sheet, may prove the more realistic fix in the short term, even if supporters would prefer to see a new face bought in before the window shuts.

Glasner’s Forest Will Not Be Overawed

Oliver Glasner arrives with a reputation as one of the sharper tactical minds outside the traditional elite, and Forest under him tend to be aggressive, well drilled and quick to punish hesitation. They will not be intimidated by the occasion or by Liverpool’s name, and if the home side leave the same gaps behind their full backs that Newcastle found, Forest have more than enough quality to make them pay.

Both coaches demand serious physical commitment from their players, even if their broader approaches differ, and that should make for a compelling tactical contest even before Anfield’s atmosphere is factored in. Liverpool have home advantage and the expectation that comes with it, but expectation alone will not close the gaps that Newcastle exposed, and Glasner will be well aware of exactly where to target.

Our View

This is exactly the sort of game a new manager needs to win to build momentum rather than doubt. Another draw would raise real questions about the pace of this rebuild, and a defeat at home in the second match of the season would create pressure Iraola could do without so early in his tenure. We think Liverpool edge it on quality alone, but only if the defensive issues from Newcastle are addressed rather than repeated, because Forest are organised enough to punish the same mistakes twice.

There is also a bigger picture point here. Iraola was brought in to build something more durable than the side that fell away so badly before his arrival, and results at Anfield in these early weeks will shape the mood around the club far more than anything said in a press conference. Three points would settle plenty of nerves and buy the new manager some patience from a support base that has already seen a great deal of change this year. Anything less, and the summer’s upheaval starts to look a lot more urgent than anyone at the club would like to admit.