Iraola has bought himself early breathing room, yet unbeaten does not mean fully settled. A match against City will test whether Liverpool can maintain their positive momentum when opponents deny them space and force repeated defensive decisions.
The key question is control. Liverpool cannot rely solely on Anfield energy; they must manage the game after winning the ball and avoid allowing City to turn possession into sustained pressure.
The central areas are likely to decide the contest. Iraola’s approach demands aggression and quick transitions, but those qualities can leave gaps if Liverpool’s midfield line becomes stretched.
Against City, Liverpool will need compact distances between midfield and defence, particularly when the first press is bypassed. The home side’s ability to turn recoveries into forward attacks could be just as important as their work without the ball.
That balance will reveal how much of Iraola’s unbeaten start is built on a repeatable structure rather than early momentum.
City arrive with the experience to punish loose possession and poor rest defence. Liverpool, meanwhile, have the home advantage and the opportunity to make Iraola’s arrival feel like a genuine change of direction.
The fixture also carries weight beyond the result. It can show whether Liverpool are ready to compete with the league’s established standard, or whether Iraola still needs time to reshape the side for elite opposition.
The next storyline is clear: Liverpool must protect their unbeaten start at Anfield when they face Manchester City on Sunday, with Iraola’s tactical identity under the spotlight from the opening whistle.