There is something different about Liverpool under Andoni Iraola. Even when things are going wrong, even when the defence looks vulnerable and the team appears to be struggling to find its rhythm, this side refuses to give up.
We have seen it time and time again this season. Liverpool have fallen behind, looked in trouble and then found a way back into games that could easily have slipped away from them.
The latest example was Tuesday night against Villarreal. Two goals down inside the opening half-hour, Anfield was facing the prospect of another frustrating evening. Yet Liverpool responded with four goals of their own to win 4-3 and maintain their perfect start in the Champions League.
It was exciting, chaotic and, at times, absolutely maddening. But it also told us something important about this team.
Iraola is rebuilding Liverpool’s fighting spirit, even if he is still searching for the cohesion and consistency he wants from his side.
Liverpool are refusing to lie down
The comeback against Villarreal was not an isolated incident.
Liverpool have repeatedly found themselves chasing games this season, recovering from losing positions against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest before producing comeback victories against Atletico Madrid, Brentford and Villarreal.
That is five occasions in their first 11 matches in which they have come from behind to win or draw. It is a remarkable pattern, and Jamie Carragher has already highlighted the character Liverpool are showing under their new manager.
For me, that is one of the most encouraging developments of Iraola’s early reign.
Last season, too many difficult moments seemed to knock the confidence out of Liverpool. Once things started going against them, the response was not always good enough. There were times when the team looked short of energy, belief and ideas.
This season, there is a greater sense that Liverpool believe they can still get something from a game, even when the situation looks bleak.
That mentality matters. A season is full of setbacks, difficult away grounds and matches when things simply do not go to plan. You need players who keep believing, who keep working and who refuse to accept defeat before the final whistle.
Liverpool are showing those qualities again.
But let’s not get carried away. There is a difference between having the character to recover from a poor start and consistently playing well enough to avoid one in the first place.
And that is where Iraola still has work to do.
The spirit is there – the football is still a work in progress
I like what Iraola is trying to build at Anfield. He wants an aggressive, front-foot Liverpool side that presses with purpose, attacks with pace and puts opponents under sustained pressure.
We have seen glimpses of what that can look like, particularly in the Champions League. The second-half performance against Villarreal was a reminder of the attacking quality Liverpool possess when the players start finding one another and playing with confidence.
Alexis Mac Allister helped bring control to the midfield, while Liverpool’s attacking players began to find better positions and put Villarreal under pressure. Four goals in a match like that demonstrate the potential in this squad.
But the first half also showed why Iraola cannot be satisfied yet.
Liverpool started too slowly, struggled to deal with Villarreal’s movement and were punished twice. Even after taking a 4-2 lead, they allowed the visitors back into the game late on.
That is the frustrating part. Liverpool can look dangerous going forward, but they can also look far too easy to play through. At other times, the defensive structure looks better, only for the attacking play to lack fluency.
We have not consistently seen the complete performance that supporters are waiting for.
Iraola is trying to get his ideas across while working with a squad that has had changes, injuries and players still learning how best to play together. Building cohesion does not happen overnight, particularly when you are asking players to adapt to a different tactical approach.
Still, Liverpool need to make progress. The manager cannot keep relying on his players to rescue games after giving opponents a head start.
Comebacks are a strength – but they cannot become the plan
There is a danger in celebrating Liverpool’s resilience without acknowledging why they keep needing it.
Of course, coming back from 2-0 down to win 4-3 in the Champions League is worth celebrating. So is recovering from difficult situations against Atletico Madrid and Brentford. Those victories can create belief and bring a squad closer together.
But imagine if Liverpool had conceded twice early against a stronger opponent and never found their way back. The same defensive problems that made Villarreal’s opening half-hour so uncomfortable could have proved much more costly.
You cannot expect to win every match by scoring more goals than the opposition after giving them a head start.
The Premier League is unforgiving, and Liverpool have some demanding fixtures ahead. Brighton visit Anfield next, followed by a busy run that includes Chelsea, Arsenal, Fenerbahçe and Crystal Palace.
Those games will provide a much clearer picture of whether Liverpool are beginning to turn their fighting spirit into consistent performances.
I want to see the same determination, but I also want to see Liverpool take control of matches earlier. I want to see the midfield dictate the tempo, the defence remain compact and the attacking players understand where their teammates will be without having to think twice.
That is what cohesion looks like.
Iraola needs time – but the signs are encouraging
I have said before that Iraola deserves patience. Liverpool appointed him because they wanted a particular style of football, and it would be unfair to expect everything to click immediately.
There are positive signs. The team is showing character, the players are continuing to fight for one another, and the Champions League performances have demonstrated the attacking threat available when Liverpool find their rhythm.
There is also a real sense that the players are still learning. Iraola himself has acknowledged that this is a developing team, still creating shared experiences and learning how to respond to difficult situations together.
That is an important point. A team becomes more cohesive not just through training, but by experiencing difficult matches, solving problems together and learning from mistakes.
The comebacks could ultimately help Liverpool grow into the side Iraola wants.
However, the next step is obvious. Liverpool must start combining their resilience with better control of games. The defensive mistakes need to decrease, the slow starts need to disappear, and the attacking football needs to become more consistent.
There is no reason why this squad should not be capable of producing that balance. The talent is there. The fight is there. Now it is about putting everything together.
Liverpool are showing character again – now comes the next test
For all the frustration of Liverpool’s performances at times this season, I would rather support a team that keeps fighting than one that folds at the first sign of trouble.
Iraola deserves credit for the resilience his players are showing. Coming from behind five times in 11 games is not something to dismiss, and it suggests Liverpool have a spirit that can carry them through difficult periods.
But I suspect the manager will be the first to admit that he does not want every match to become a test of character.
He wants Liverpool to impose themselves from the first whistle, control the game and make their quality count. That is the standard this club should be aiming for.
For now, I am encouraged. I can see the fight, I can see the potential, and I believe there is more to come as the players become more comfortable with Iraola’s methods.
We should celebrate the comebacks without pretending the problems have disappeared.
Liverpool have rediscovered their resilience under Iraola. The next challenge is turning that resilience into consistency – and finding the cohesion that could make this team a serious force.
Keep believing in the journey. There is still plenty of work to do, but the fight is certainly back.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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