Jamie Carragher has summed up one of the most encouraging things about Liverpool under Andoni Iraola, and I think he’s absolutely right.
Liverpool’s dramatic 4-3 Champions League victory over Villarreal was another example of this team refusing to accept defeat, even when things looked pretty grim.
Let’s be honest, when Liverpool went 2-0 down inside the opening half-hour at Anfield, I wasn’t exactly feeling confident.
The defending was poor, Villarreal were finding far too much space, and Liverpool looked like they were heading for a very uncomfortable night.
But this team fought back.
Alexis Mac Allister scored twice, Ronald Araújo brought Liverpool level before half-time, and Florian Wirtz completed the turnaround with a fourth goal in the second half.
Villarreal pulled one back late on, making the finish far more nervous than it needed to be, but Liverpool held on for another important European victory.
And Carragher believes the comeback says something significant about the mentality Iraola is building at Anfield.
Carragher believes Liverpool have changed
Speaking on CBS Sports Golazo, the former Liverpool defender highlighted the team’s ability to recover from losing positions.
Carragher said:
“What they have done under Iraola so far is they’ve had an ability to come back from behind. They’ve done that a lot. They didn’t do that a lot last season at all. They’ve done it again tonight, so that bodes well character-wise.”
That’s an interesting observation, and one I think deserves more attention.
We all know Liverpool have the attacking quality to hurt teams. With players such as Mac Allister, Wirtz and Rio Ngumoha, there is plenty of ability in this squad.
But ability only gets you so far.
When things go wrong, when an opponent scores first, or when you’re two goals behind and the crowd starts getting frustrated, you need character as well.
You need players who believe they can turn a game around rather than letting their heads drop.
And Liverpool showed that against Villarreal.
The reaction mattered more than the perfect performance
I don’t want to pretend this was a flawless Liverpool display.
Far from it.
Going two goals behind at home was worrying, and the defensive mistakes that allowed Villarreal to take control need addressing. Iraola will know his team cannot keep giving opponents that kind of advantage.
But what happened next was encouraging.
Liverpool didn’t panic. They found a way back into the match, changed the momentum and went into half-time level.
Then, after the break, they took control and scored twice in quick succession.
That is the part Carragher is talking about.
Last season, Liverpool too often struggled to recover when matches went against them. This time, there is a growing sense that falling behind doesn’t necessarily mean the game is over.
That belief is valuable, especially when you’re trying to build a team capable of competing for major trophies.
Iraola is building something different
One of the reasons I was excited about Iraola’s appointment was the prospect of a more aggressive, front-foot Liverpool side.
I want to see Liverpool attack with purpose, press with intensity and make opponents uncomfortable.
We’ve seen glimpses of that already, although the defensive side of the game still needs work.
The Villarreal match showed both sides of the argument.
Liverpool were far too open early on, but once they got going, their attacking quality was outstanding. Ngumoha was fearless, Mac Allister kept arriving in dangerous positions, and Wirtz found the net at a time when Liverpool needed him to contribute.
There was plenty to enjoy.
And perhaps the most important thing was that the players kept believing in what they were doing.
Iraola deserves credit for that, even if he will be the first to admit there are things to improve.
Rio Ngumoha summed up the spirit of the comeback
For me, Ngumoha was one of the biggest stories of the night.
The teenager produced two assists and played with the confidence of somebody who wasn’t remotely intimidated by the occasion.
When Liverpool needed inspiration, he took defenders on and made things happen.
That is the sort of attitude supporters want to see.
He wasn’t hiding because the team was behind. He was actively trying to change the game.
Mac Allister deserves enormous credit for his two goals, Araújo’s equaliser was crucial, and Wirtz’s contribution was another positive.
But Ngumoha’s fearless approach captured the spirit of the comeback perfectly.
Liverpool needed somebody to make something happen, and he stepped up.
There is still plenty of work to do
Carragher’s comments are encouraging, but I don’t think Liverpool supporters should get carried away just yet.
Character is important, but it cannot become an excuse for poor starts or defensive lapses.
Liverpool cannot keep going two goals behind and expect to win every time. Better opponents will make it much harder to recover.
Iraola needs to find a better balance between the attacking football we want to see and the defensive solidity required to win consistently.
The encouraging thing is that the team is showing signs of resilience while still adapting to his ideas.
Three wins from three in the Champions League is an excellent start, and beating Villarreal after such a difficult opening half-hour should give the players confidence.
Now they need to carry that belief into the Premier League.
Brighton are next at Anfield on Sunday, and that will be another serious test.
I’m starting to believe in this Liverpool team
I was delighted with the comeback, but what pleased me most was seeing Liverpool refuse to give up.
Carragher has recognised something important here. Liverpool are showing an ability to recover from difficult situations, and that suggests there is a positive change taking place under Iraola.
It doesn’t guarantee trophies. It doesn’t mean the defensive problems have disappeared.
But it gives us something to build on.
Liverpool have the quality to hurt teams. If Iraola can combine that with the character Carragher has identified, this could become a very exciting side.
There will be more setbacks along the way, and we shouldn’t expect every game to end with a dramatic comeback.
But after watching Liverpool turn 2-0 into a 4-3 victory, I’m certainly feeling more optimistic.
Keep believing in the journey.
I think there could be plenty more memorable nights ahead under Andoni Iraola.
By Jamie (The Kopite View)
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