Iraola 'frustrated' but positive after Liverpool's winless start to Premier League season

[p]The former Bournemouth manager was hired this summer to revive a ‌team bruised by last season's failed title defence, when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/liverpool/lId4TMwf/"]Liverpool[/a] crashed from champions in 2025 to fifth place despite spending a ‌Premier League record £446 million on new players.[/p][p]His remit is to restore Liverpool to the summit ‌of English football and reintroduce the intensity that once made Anfield one of Europe's most daunting venues.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/iraola-andoni/xpALVpwq/"]Iraola[/a]'s answer ‌is not caution. The Spaniard wants his side to play on the front foot, attack ‌at pace and press relentlessly, a style that should resonate with supporters who spent years watching Juergen Klopp's 'heavy-metal football' before the more measured approach of Arne Slot's two-year reign.[/p][p]The transition, however, remains a work in progress. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/nottingham/UsushcZr/"]Forest[/a]'s opening goal from ‌Dan Ndoye stemmed from a direct counterattack, while long periods of ⁠[a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/liverpool-lId4TMwf/nottingham-UsushcZr/?mid=CYJLO78D"]a sluggish first half left Iraola frustrated.[/a][/p][image alt="Liverpool and Forest drew on Saturday" id="97be7f82-8f4b-4643-8725-65711f45b19a" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="898a75ea-3cab-452f-8e15-26fb74514309" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p][b]"I think ‌we improved a lot in the second half. We were much more intense, much quicker on the ball, with ​more sense of urgency,"[/b] he said.[/p][p][b]"But it's not enough to win the game, and I think we have to blame the first half that we had."[/b][/p][p]The improvement after the ​break was unmistakable. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/isak-alexander/p41IV42c/"]Alexander Isak[/a] levelled shortly after the hour mark, before newcomer [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/munoz-victor/EBMXXrd3/"]Victor Munoz[/a] struck the late equaliser.[/p][p]Six days earlier, the Spaniard had won the crucial late penalty that secured a 2–2 ⁠draw with Newcastle in their opener.[/p][p][b]"I ​think Victor has been very good both games,"[/b] Iraola said. [b]"Everything hasn't been perfect, but he's continued trying all the time, and he's gone again and again and again. I like this a lot from the wingers.[/b][/p][p]"He has always been a threat, and also defensively has helped us a lot."[/p][embed guid="6df8b369-080c-4718-ab77-0a038689afd9" url="https://x.com/LFC/status/2093689908133011813" social-type="twitter" /][p]The bigger concern ‌for Iraola is Liverpool's tendency to start slowly, a habit they have carried over from last season. While he was encouraged by the character shown to recover from a losing position for a second consecutive match, he believes the underlying issue lies in their work without the ball.[/p][p][b]"In the first half we were being passive without the ball, leaving a lot of distance and becoming a little bit comfortable,"[/b] he said.[/p][p][b]"When we improved the intensity, we won more duels and started attacking quicker and attacking better. This lack of intensity without the ball has hurt us."[/b][/p][p]There is little panic around Anfield, despite the winless start. Iraola has said the tactical shift would take time, and his insistence ‌on playing at a higher tempo was never likely to be mastered overnight.[/p][h2]Reinforcements on the ​way[/h2][p]Reinforcements are also on the ​way. Liverpool have finalised an agreement to sign France winger [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/barcola-bradley/lhGD3RgS/"]Bradley Barcola[/a] from PSG, according to British media reports, with the 23-year-old's pace and direct running seen as an ideal fit for Iraola's high-octane system.[/p][p]For now, Liverpool remain caught between promise and progress. The entertainment value is increasing, but the victories have yet to arrive.[/p][p][b]"It's true that we've come back from two bad results where we were losing," [/b]Iraola said.[/p][p][b]"But at the end what makes ⁠the difference are the wins and three points.[/b][/p][p][b]"I ⁠liked what we've done in the second ‌half; we've been able to complete the comeback, but the point leaves you frustrated."[/b][/p][infobox id="02b45e73-9abc-454d-882a-650a1a621f7d" /]