Liverpool have barely had time to catch their breath after that incredible 4-3 victory over Villarreal, and now Andoni Iraola faces a demanding run of fixtures that could tell us plenty about where this team is heading.
Five games in a fortnight. Three competitions. Brighton, Chelsea, Arsenal, Fenerbahçe and Crystal Palace.
There is no easing into this one.
Liverpool start with Brighton at Anfield on Sunday before Chelsea visit in the Carabao Cup. Arsenal then arrive for a massive Premier League clash, followed by a trip to Turkey to face Fenerbahçe in the Champions League. Crystal Palace away brings the run to an end before the international break.
That is a seriously demanding schedule, and I think how Iraola manages it could be just as important as the results themselves.
Liverpool need to build on the Villarreal comeback
The win over Villarreal was exactly the sort of night Liverpool needed.
Going two goals behind at Anfield was far from ideal, and I don’t want to overlook the defensive problems that allowed it to happen. But the response was outstanding. Alexis Mac Allister scored twice, Ronald Araújo got himself on the scoresheet, and Florian Wirtz helped complete the turnaround.
Rio Ngumoha was brilliant, too. His confidence and direct running gave Liverpool another dimension, and Trey Nyoni also showed why there is so much excitement about the young players coming through.
The challenge now is turning that memorable European night into something more consistent.
Brighton will be a difficult test, and Liverpool cannot afford to switch off defensively as they did against Villarreal. The attacking quality is clearly there, but the team needs to find a better balance if it wants to compete across several competitions.
For me, Sunday’s game matters enormously. Another strong performance would give the players a lift before the schedule becomes even more demanding.
Chelsea and Arsenal are massive tests
The Carabao Cup tie against Chelsea is interesting because Iraola has to decide how much to rotate.
I would like to see Liverpool take the competition seriously. There is silverware to be won, and winning trophies can help build confidence in a new manager’s project. But there is no point running key players into the ground when three more important tests are waiting around the corner.
This is where squad depth becomes crucial.
The youngsters have given Iraola some encouraging options, and performances from players such as Nyoni and Ngumoha should give him confidence that he can rotate without simply weakening the team.
Then comes Arsenal at Anfield.
That is the sort of fixture Liverpool supporters always want to win, regardless of what competition comes next. Arsenal will provide a serious test, and Liverpool need to be much more disciplined than they were during the opening stages against Villarreal.
I am not expecting perfection from Iraola at this stage, but I do want to see progress. Better organisation, fewer unnecessary mistakes and the ability to control games for longer periods would be encouraging signs.
The Champions League trip could be tricky
Travelling to Fenerbahçe in the middle of this run is another challenge Liverpool cannot take lightly.
European away games can be difficult, particularly when they come between demanding domestic fixtures. The atmosphere in Istanbul can be intimidating, and Liverpool will need to approach the game with the right mentality.
The positive is that the Reds have made an excellent start to their Champions League campaign, winning their first three league-phase matches. Another positive result would strengthen their position considerably.
But Iraola will have to think carefully about his team selection. Liverpool need their strongest players available for the biggest moments, yet they also need to avoid asking the same players to deliver at full intensity every few days.
That is easier said than done, especially with injuries already affecting the squad.
Palace away is no easy way to finish
And then there is Crystal Palace away.
Anyone who follows Liverpool knows that these are the sort of fixtures that can become awkward when you are tired and juggling several competitions. Palace have the ability to make life difficult, and Liverpool will need to be ready for another physical battle.
By that point, the players will have been through a demanding sequence of games, and fatigue could become a major factor.
This is why I keep coming back to rotation. Iraola needs to trust his squad, use his substitutes effectively and recognise when certain players need a rest.
There is no prize for having tired players available for every match if performances begin to suffer.
This is where Liverpool’s season can gather momentum
I don’t think these five matches will define Iraola’s entire Liverpool career, and supporters need to keep some perspective. There will be difficult moments this season, particularly while he continues to work out his best combinations and gets injured players back.
But this is an important period.
Liverpool have shown that they can fight back when things go wrong. Now they need to show that they can maintain their standards through a relentless run of fixtures.
Personally, I would love to see Liverpool collect a healthy number of wins, progress in the Carabao Cup and strengthen their Champions League position before the players head off on international duty.
That is the aim. We don’t need to start talking about title challenges or pretending every problem has disappeared. We just need to see the team moving in the right direction.
Iraola has already given us reasons to be excited, but there is still plenty to improve. The defence needs to tighten up, the midfield needs to find consistency and the attack must keep producing.
Five games, a fortnight and very little room for error.
Liverpool have some huge nights ahead, and I cannot wait to see how they handle them. If Iraola can guide this team through the schedule with strong performances and some important results, the mood around Anfield could be even better when the international break arrives.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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