This is exactly what I wanted to see from Andoni Iraola.
Liverpool are currently leading the Premier League for the percentage of their passes that are progressive, with 16.1 per cent of their passes moving the ball significantly closer to the opposition goal, according to The Athletic.
And when I look at Liverpool under Iraola, it actually makes perfect sense.
Because one thing has been obvious since the new manager arrived at Anfield:
He wants Liverpool to move the ball forward.
Quickly.
Aggressively.
With purpose.
And now we have the numbers to back it up.
Liverpool aren’t interested in passing for the sake of it
This is probably one of the biggest changes I have noticed.
Liverpool don’t want endless possession just for the sake of saying they had 65 or 70 per cent of the ball.
The whole point is to do something with it.
Get the ball.
Move it forward.
Attack.
That seems to be the message from Iraola.
And Liverpool’s statistics are beginning to reflect that.
Opta’s analysis of Liverpool’s start to the season found that the Reds are averaging 15.38 metres of progress per possession sequence, with only Manchester United moving the ball up the pitch faster. Liverpool’s direct speed has also increased compared with last season.
Even more interestingly, Liverpool are averaging 3.9 passes per sequence, down from 4.2 last season.
That’s not a massive difference.
But it tells us something.
Liverpool are becoming more vertical.
And that’s what I wanted from Iraola
When Liverpool appointed Iraola, I didn’t expect him to come in and simply copy what Jurgen Klopp or Arne Slot had done.
I wanted something different.
I wanted attacking intent.
I wanted Liverpool to play on the front foot.
And I wanted opponents to feel uncomfortable when Liverpool had the ball.
We’re still a long way from seeing the finished version of this Liverpool team.
There have been frustrating performances.
There have been games where the attack has looked disjointed.
And there have certainly been moments when I’ve wondered exactly how Iraola is going to get all of these attacking players working together.
But the underlying idea is becoming clearer.
Liverpool want to go forward.
Just look at the players Iraola has to work with
This is where it gets really exciting for me.
Florian Wirtz.
Alexander Isak.
Cody Gakpo.
Bradley Barcola.
Dominik Szoboszlai.
Alexis Mac Allister.
And then you’ve got players behind them who are capable of starting attacks quickly.
Virgil van Dijk can play those passes from deep.
Ronald Araújo can carry the ball forward.
Jérémy Jacquet is becoming increasingly comfortable stepping into midfield.
And Liverpool have midfielders who are willing to receive the ball and immediately look forward.
That fits Iraola’s football.
And perhaps that’s why we’re seeing this progressive passing figure.
The important thing is what happens next
Being top of the Premier League for progressive passes is nice.
But it doesn’t win you football matches on its own.
That’s the bit Liverpool still have to get right.
Progressive passes have to become chances.
Chances have to become goals.
And goals have to become wins.
That’s where Liverpool have sometimes struggled this season.
We’ve seen plenty of attacking intent without always getting the reward.
But I’d much rather see Liverpool trying to break teams down by moving the ball forward than becoming overly cautious and passing sideways because they’re afraid of losing possession.
That’s part of the learning process.
Iraola is trying to establish an identity.
And I think we’re starting to see it.
It could become frightening when everything clicks
This is the part that gives me hope.
Imagine Liverpool keeping this level of progressive passing but becoming more efficient in the final third.
Imagine Wirtz receiving the ball between the lines and immediately having Isak running beyond him.
Imagine Barcola getting the ball with space in front of him.
Imagine Gakpo combining with Isak.
Imagine Szoboszlai arriving late into the box.
That’s the Liverpool Iraola wants.
And if they can eventually combine that attacking speed with the defensive solidity we’ve started to see, then this team could become seriously difficult to play against.
We’ve already seen the defence improving.
Now the numbers suggest the attacking philosophy is beginning to take shape too.
I’m actually encouraged by this
I’ll be honest, I think statistics like this are more interesting than simply looking at possession percentages.
Liverpool can have 60 per cent possession and still not necessarily hurt an opponent.
But if a significant percentage of those passes are taking the ball towards the opposition goal, that’s different.
That’s purposeful possession.
That’s attacking football.
And that’s what I wanted to see from Iraola.
There will still be frustrating afternoons.
There will still be games where Liverpool need to be more clinical.
And there will still be plenty for the manager to improve.
But 16.1 per cent progressive passes tells us something important.
Liverpool are not trying to become a team that simply controls games.
They are trying to become a team that moves through teams.
And for me, that’s exactly the direction they should be heading.
The football isn’t perfect yet.
Far from it.
But the identity is beginning to appear.
And when Iraola finally gets everything clicking?
I think Liverpool could be a hell of a lot of fun to watch.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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