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Andoni Iraola would not be drawn on Jamie Carragher’s claim that his Liverpool side should be considered Arsenal’s nearest challengers in this season’s Premier League.
Liverpool have bounced back impressively from their 3-0 defeat to Manchester City earlier this month, winning five straight games in all competitions.
The Reds impressively beat third-place Brighton last weekend and can now look to further close the gap on the top two when they host defending champions Arsenal at Anfield.
Writing in The Telegraph, Carragher asserted that Liverpool could rubber-stamp their title credentials with a win against the Gunners, particularly given the uncertainty surrounding City after their guilty verdict.
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But Iraola suggested it was too early to engage with that kind of title talk and said his team still needed to ‘improve’.
‘I think it is too early to start looking at the standings,’ Iraola said in his pre-match press conference. ‘It is about preparing ourselves for a very difficult game.
‘We know Arsenal and how good they are. They have very good players, working a lot in synchronicity and we have to be ready for that challenge.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 28: Andoni Iraola manager / head coach of Liverpool during the Carabao Cup Fourth Round match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield on October 28, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 28: Andoni Iraola manager / head coach of Liverpool during the Carabao Cup Fourth Round match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield on October 28, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
‘It’s going to be a demanding game but we also trust our players, trust ourselves and in the good atmosphere we will for sure have on Sunday, I hope we will be at level to win this game.
‘It is still October,’ he continued. ‘We have to take one game at a time and I always say the reference is more or less when we’ve play against each other once so halfway through the season. That’s when you can start to look at the standings.
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‘Right now, we are in a position where wneed to improve and keep getting better.
‘For fans, it is good if they have expectations or they think we can win. Normally that’s a good thing but if you ask me if I think it is still very early in the season.’
Liverpool will hope to be boosted by the return of Dominik Szoboszlai and Víctor Munoz for Sunday’s game as they continue their recoveries from hamstring and knee injuries, respectively.
‘I think they have a chance,’ Iraola added. ‘But I don’t know for sure if they will be involved or not. We still have two days, so I think they have a chance, yes.’
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