Anfield's Once-Dominant Aura Fades as Liverpool Struggles Continue
It's still early in the season, but Andoni Iraola knows he must turn Anfield back into a fortress if he wants his tenure at Liverpool to be a success.
At the moment, it’s proving to be quite the challenge.
Despite showing promise against a formidable Manchester City team that boasted a perfect record, Liverpool suffered a harsh 3-0 defeat after Ryan Gravenberch was sent off in the 62nd minute.
Post-match, Iraola reflected on the game with Match of the Day, stating, "We played two different games. One until the red card, and then after. For 60 minutes, the players were very good. The second game from the red card was where City were better than us."
That loss marks the end of Iraola's unbeaten run, which had stretched across 24 matches (10 wins, 13 draws) since January, including his time at Bournemouth.
The Reds are now winless in their last three Premier League home games this season. It’s a concerning trend that has only happened once before.
This ongoing winless streak at Anfield stretches back to last season, leaving Liverpool without a league victory in five straight home matches (4 draws, 1 loss).
Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock shared his thoughts on BBC Radio 5 Live, saying, "The best teams in the world are also horrible to play against. Liverpool aren't horrible. They're an easy touch at the moment. They have too many players that are nice, and they have to change that part of things."
Warnock also stressed that the team lacks sufficient leadership on the field, aside from Virgil van Dijk's commanding presence.
While City convincingly showcased their superiority, Liverpool's decline at home is evident. Since the start of the year, they've secured only four wins from their last 13 Premier League matches at Anfield.
Interestingly, they've managed to win more often on the road during this period.
Looking at the stats, Liverpool's home performance has steadily declined since the 2023-2024 season, though it’s crucial to remember that we’re still in the early stages of the current campaign.
Historically, away teams have had a mere 12.5 percent win rate at Anfield, the lowest in Premier League history. But is that fortress reputation beginning to erode?
Ex-Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes noted on The Good, the Bad and the Football podcast, "When you go to Liverpool, especially under Jurgen Klopp, the crowd played such a major part. It feels like that's gone. Teams seem to have a lot more possession and look a bit more comfortable than they ever have."
His former teammate, Nicky Butt, added, "Teams like Fulham five years ago would arrive at Anfield already beaten before stepping onto the pitch."
This recent defeat marked Liverpool's joint-biggest home loss in Premier League history.
Despite two away wins this season, the Reds find themselves languishing in ninth place, and the reasons for their struggles are glaringly obvious.
With only seven goals scored this season—two of which came at Anfield—they rank among the lowest in the league.
During the first half, the camera caught Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo, and Dominik Szoboszlai in the stands, all sidelined due to injuries. Together, they accounted for six of Liverpool's seven league goals this season.
While Manchester City displayed their attacking prowess, Liverpool’s front line was notably absent in terms of quality.
City has outscored Liverpool by more than double this season, netting 16 goals compared to the Reds’ seven.
In their three league games at Anfield this season, Liverpool has failed to find the net in two of them. That’s a statistic that needs urgent attention.
In the absence of Isak, Lewis Koumas stepped up but lacked the decisive touch required at this level.
The spotlight now turns to summer signings Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola, who are expected to deliver game-changing moments. However, neither showcased the quality anticipated from players with hefty price tags.
One notable moment came in the 55th minute when Wirtz had two teammates open on his left but opted to shoot, missing the target entirely.
Iraola concluded, "You learn a lot in games like today. I am very proud of my players. They put in the work rate and everything today. It's a loss, and we didn't get anything from the performance, but I liked it a lot."
Deep down, though, Iraola knows there’s a significant amount of work ahead, especially in getting those big-money signings to deliver on the pitch.
