REUTERS/Phil Noble
Undefeated across his opening four Premier League games in charge at Liverpool, Andoni Iraola might find himself nursing just one win in five at the start of the 2026/27 season, with his old stomping ground up next.
The Reds' goalless draw against Fulham on Saturday afternoon was a sobering reality check. Indeed, Liverpool have only won four league matches at Anfield in 2026, with the fear factor turned inwards on the tetchy, too-quiet Kop.
Much has been made of Florian Wirtz's struggles as creator-in-chief. Bradley Barcola hasn't clicked into gear yet, three games into his £123m adventure at Liverpool, having signed from Paris Saint-Germain. Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch has swallowed large chunks of criticism early on this term, and everything's a little bit shaky.
REUTERS/Phil Noble
However, these are all issues which can be ironed out. More concerning is the struggle of Liverpool's full-backs, who might not be fit for purpose at this demanding club.
Liverpool's full-back problem
In Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, Liverpool have a big fat problem. Kerkez lacks the basic nous to take his natural talent and will it toward world-class territory. Frimpong lacks the physicality and awareness to become a first-class Premier League right-back.
REUTERS/Phil Noble
Kerkez, it has to be said, has started the season really poorly. He is erratic and uncertain, and has struggled to adapt to the raised standards expected at a club such as Liverpool. A lack of aggression is not one of his flaws, but rarely has the Hungary international sustained form for the Reds.
So impressive under Iraola's wing at Bournemouth, the 21-year-old looks tactically immature on Merseyside. Good luck to Barcola in forging a fluent working relationship with this one; should things fail to improve, Liverpool's build-up problems will persist.
On the right, Frimpong's struggles have seen him scapegoated across the opening month of the Iraola era. A force down the right for Bayer Leverkusen in Germany, the fact fans are looking at 34-year-old free agent Dani Carvajal as a stop-gap saviour says it all.
Conor Bradley is a talented player, but Bradley is injured, and will be for some time yet. Liverpool are short of options out on the right, though they do have a bit of depth on the other flank - albeit, the quality at Iraola's disposal isn't matching the quantity.
Defensive flaws have been present at Liverpool for some time. When Jurgen Klopp inherited a struggling, expensive team, he was met with up-and-down defenders such as Mamadou Sakho and Dejan Lovren. Iraola needs to iron out the same old creases, with one member of the squad looking like the new version of Lovren.
Liverpool star has become the new Lovren
Liverpool failed to get the basics right against Fulham, lacking intensity and an edge in attack. It was a bore draw, and no mistake, and it did feel like an indefinite stretch of time still would have yielded no goals for the hosts.
However, there are mitigating factors which might have been avoided, had Liverpool's squad-planning not been so wide of the mark over the past few transfer windows. Take the decision to part ways with Andy Robertson and replace the legend with Kostas Tsimikas, for example.
Liverpool's Kostas Tsimikas celebrates after winning the Premier League
Liverpool's Kostas Tsimikas celebrates after winning the Premier League
Robertson is past his best, but given Kerkez's struggles since joining Liverpool from Bournemouth for £40m last summer, was reintegrating Tsimikas from his loan year abroad. That stint with Roma in Italy proved unsuccessful.
Tsimikas, 30, has been a committed servant for Liverpool over the years, joining from Olympiakos for around £12m in 2020, but he has never cemented himself as the out-and-out starter for the Reds, and now Iraola has another problem to add to his growing list.
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Kostas Tsimikas in the Premier League (by season)
Season
26/27
25/26
24/25
23/24
22/23
21/22
20/21
Rightly, Kerkez was dropped against Fulham, but Tsimikas blew his chance to impress in the young man's stead. The Athletic's James Pearce suggested in-game that the Greek international should be hooked at half-time having "struggling badly". He was, but Kerkez was hardly any better.
What a concerning conundrum for Iraola and co. Tsimikas lost possession 17 times but failed to create a single chance or find a teammate with any of his four attempted crosses.
Unlike the aforementioned Lovren, Tsimikas is a left-back, not a central defender, but there are still similarities between the two players and their situations at Liverpool.
Lovren was once central to that incredible Europa League win over Borussia Dortmund way back when. Tsimikas, too, has had his moments, taking a corner which Virgil van Dijk scored in the final moments of the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea in 2024. His spot kick also won the FA Cup against the Blues in 2022.
Signed before Klopp replaced Brendan Rodgers, the Croatian played across six campaigns for Liverpool - and his erratic, error-strewn performances should have seen him sold much earlier.
The fact he is playing a part for Liverpool in 2026 is an illustration of the intellectual decline of the Anfield decision-makers, who have taken too many wrong turns in recent years. Now we are met with the consquences.
REUTERS/Phil Noble
Liverpool are yet to sort themselves out. This feels like a continuation of the struggle which derailed Arne Slot's tenure one year ago. But Iraola needs time, and it's worth remembering he has been placed in a difficult situation, with the negligence of those above him hampering his chances of successfully executing his three-year plan at Anfield.
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola before the match
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola before the match