There is something different about Liverpool heading into the new season.
After a summer of major changes, the Reds are beginning to look like a completely different proposition under Andoni Iraola.
Florian Wirtz.
Alexander Isak.
Ronald Araújo.
Jérémy Jacquet.
Giovanni Leoni.
And potentially Bradley Barcola.
Add the likes of Cody Gakpo, Federico Chiesa, Dominik Szoboszlai and the incredibly exciting Rio Ngumoha to that group and Liverpool suddenly have an attacking squad capable of frightening almost any team in Europe.
But there is one major problem.
Liverpool could be incredibly exciting to watch under Iraola — but they could also be vulnerable at the back.
The attack could be frightening
Let’s start with the fun part.
Liverpool’s attacking options could be extraordinary.
Wirtz looks like the perfect player to operate between the lines and create opportunities for those around him.
Isak gives Liverpool a genuine world-class No.9 who can score, link play and stretch defences.
Then you have Gakpo and Chiesa providing experience and quality, while Ngumoha offers something completely different.
And if Liverpool can complete the reported deal for Barcola, the attack becomes even more frightening.
Imagine facing Liverpool with Barcola and Ngumoha running at you from wide areas, Wirtz creating behind Isak and Iraola demanding an aggressive high press.
That could be absolute chaos for opposition defenders.
Iraola wants intensity
And this is where the excitement really comes from.
Iraola doesn’t want Liverpool to simply dominate possession and patiently move the ball around.
He wants intensity.
He wants Liverpool to press.
He wants them to win the ball back quickly and attack before the opposition has time to reorganise.
We’ve already seen glimpses of it during pre-season.
Liverpool’s opening spell against Monaco was particularly encouraging.
They were aggressive, energetic and dangerous.
The press worked.
The attacking combinations looked promising.
Wirtz and Isak immediately looked like they could develop into a devastating partnership.
But then came the problem.
Liverpool can be exposed
Monaco came back from 2-0 down to win 3-2.
And while fitness clearly played a part, the game also highlighted a potential weakness in Iraola’s system.
When Liverpool’s intensity drops, there can be huge spaces behind the press.
A high defensive line means defenders have to be comfortable defending large areas.
One misplaced pass.
One failed press.
One player caught out of position.
Suddenly the opposition can be running towards Liverpool’s goal.
That is going to happen at times.
The question is whether Liverpool can limit it.
The fitness excuse won’t last forever
Iraola has already explained that his players aren’t yet physically capable of maintaining his desired intensity for 90 minutes.
That is understandable during pre-season.
The players are still building fitness and adapting to a completely different tactical approach.
But once the competitive season begins, Liverpool won’t be able to use fitness as an excuse.
They will need to learn how to manage matches.
There will be moments when they press aggressively.
There will also be moments when they need to slow things down and control the game.
That balance could determine how successful Iraola’s first season becomes.
The centre-backs are crucial
This is why Liverpool’s defensive options are so important.
Van Dijk remains the leader.
Araújo brings aggression and physicality.
Gomez offers experience and versatility.
Jacquet and Leoni provide exciting young options.
On paper, there is plenty of talent.
But there are also question marks.
Can Van Dijk stay fit throughout the season?
Can Araújo consistently perform at his best?
Can Gomez remain available?
Are Jacquet and Leoni ready for regular Premier League and Champions League football?
Those questions could ultimately determine whether Liverpool’s exciting attacking football becomes a trophy-winning formula.
The full-backs have an important role too
Liverpool’s full-backs will also be critical.
Iraola’s system requires them to contribute going forward, but they also have to recover quickly when possession is lost.
That is particularly important when Liverpool are playing with such an aggressive press.
If both full-backs are high and the midfield loses possession, Liverpool can suddenly find themselves exposed down the sides.
The defenders therefore need to be extremely disciplined.
Attack with freedom.
But know exactly when to stay back.
This is where Wirtz and Isak could make the difference
The encouraging thing is that Liverpool may have enough attacking quality to compensate for some defensive vulnerability.
If Liverpool concede one, they may genuinely believe they can score two or three.
That’s a dangerous mentality for opponents to face.
Wirtz can unlock packed defences.
Isak can finish chances.
Barcola and Ngumoha can attack space.
Gakpo can provide a physical presence.
Szoboszlai can arrive from midfield.
There are goals throughout this team.
Could Liverpool become the Premier League’s most exciting team?
I genuinely think they could.
Iraola’s football has the potential to make Liverpool one of the most entertaining teams in England.
The combination of aggressive pressing, quick transitions, talented attackers and young players hungry to prove themselves could produce some incredible football.
But entertainment alone won’t win Liverpool the Premier League.
They need balance.
They need to know when to attack and when to control.
They need to become much harder to counter.
And they need their defenders to stay fit.
The big question
Liverpool may have assembled one of the most exciting attacking groups in the Premier League.
Wirtz. Isak. Barcola. Gakpo. Chiesa. Ngumoha.
That is frightening.
But the real question isn’t whether Liverpool can score goals.
I think they will.
The question is whether they can stop conceding them.
If Iraola can solve that problem, Liverpool could be an absolute nightmare for the rest of the Premier League.
The attacking football could be spectacular.
The press could be relentless.
The young players could explode onto the scene.
And Anfield could become an incredibly difficult place for opposition teams to survive.
Liverpool could be the most exciting team in the Premier League this season.
They just need to make sure the excitement is happening at the right end of the pitch.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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