19/09/2026
🔴 LIVERPOOL'S REAL TEST STARTS NOW.
The 3–1 victory over Tottenham was encouraging.
But let's be honest the real questions about this Liverpool team haven't disappeared.
They've simply been postponed.
Liverpool have taken one league win from their opening four, with three draws. That means tomorrow's trip to Bournemouth isn't just another game.
It's another test of whether this team is actually developing under Andoni Iraola.
🧠 1. CAN IRAOLA FIX THE MIDFIELD BALANCE?
This is probably the biggest tactical question.
Liverpool have incredible attacking talent, but attacking talent becomes less effective when the midfield cannot consistently control transitions.
Against stronger opposition, Liverpool cannot afford to have the midfield stretched vertically.
Mac Allister needs to provide control.
Szoboszlai needs to contribute without leaving spaces behind him.
Any whoever plays alongside them has to understand when to push forward and when to protect the defence.
Liverpool don't necessarily need more attacking players.
They'll need the players they already have to function as a connected unit.
⚡ 2. WIRTZ HAS TO BECOME A CENTRAL PART OF THE SYSTEM
Florian Wirtz hasn't had the easiest start.
But this is where the manager earns his money.
Don't simply ask:
“Is Wirtz playing well?”
Ask:
“Is Liverpool creating the conditions for Wirtz to play his best football?”
He needs runners around him.
He needs midfielders who can progress the ball.
He needs attackers who understand his movement.
If Liverpool get that connection right, Wirtz can become the player who turns possession into genuine chances.
🔥 3. THE LEFT SIDE COULD BE A HUGE WEAPON
Gakpo and Barcola give Iraola two very different options.
Gakpo can combine, drift inside and attack the box.
Barcola can stretch the defence with pace and direct running.
The interesting question isn't necessarily who is better.
It's:
Which profile does Liverpool need for each opponent?
That's the kind of tactical flexibility a team competing on multiple fronts needs.
🛡️ 4. ARAÚJO IS GIVING IRAOLA AN INTERESTING OPTION
Ronald Araújo's versatility could become extremely valuable.
He can play centrally, but he's also being used at right-back, where the physical demands are different. Iraola has praised his willingness to adapt and his ability to handle those demands.
That gives Liverpool something important:
FLEXIBILITY without necessarily changing the entire structure.
And against teams that attack aggressively down the flanks, that could matter.
🎯 5. LIVERPOOL HAVE TO BE MORE RUTHLESS
This is another major issue.
Liverpool can have possession.
Liverpool can have attacking talent.
Liverpool can create pressure.
But eventually you have to turn control into goals.
Iraola himself has called for Liverpool to be ruthless at Bournemouth.
That's particularly important because Bournemouth are difficult to beat at the Vitality Stadium, and Liverpool lost 3–2 there in January.
🧩 6. SQUAD DEPTH IS ABOUT TO MATTER
This September schedule is demanding, with Liverpool playing across three competitions.
Bournemouth are also coming off their first European match, a 2–1 victory away to Real Sociedad.
Liverpool have had two extra days of recovery, which gives Iraola an important physical advantage in preparation.
But the bigger question is whether Liverpool can rotate without losing their identity.
That's what separates a talented squad from a functioning squad.
🔴 THE BIG QUESTION
I don't think Liverpool's biggest problem is a lack of quality.
The squad clearly has quality.
The question is whether Iraola can turn that quality into a consistent footballing identity.
We've seen flashes.
We've seen good attacking combinations.
We've seen defensive improvement.
We've seen young players step up.
But we've also seen periods where Liverpool lose control of games.
So tomorrow isn't simply about three points.
It's about answering a much bigger question:
WHAT EXACTLY IS IRAOLA'S LIVERPOOL GOING TO LOOK LIKE?
Because once the excuses disappear fatigue, adaptation, new players, new system — the performances have to start becoming consistent.
🔴 LIVERPOOL FANS, LET'S DEBATE:
What is the ONE thing Iraola must fix first?
A️⃣ Midfield control
B️⃣ Defensive transitions
C️⃣ Chance creation
D️⃣ Finishing
E️⃣ Tactical identity
Don't just choose a letter.
Explain your answer. 👇🔥
