Iraola’s Anfield Revival: Liverpool Seek to Snap Arsenal’s 2012 Winless Streak

Liverpool will look to silence Arsenal’s ghosts when the two sides meet at Anfield this Sunday, as the BBC reported ^[1] that the Gunners have not won there since 2012. Mikel Arteta, who played for Arsenal during that final victory, now leads the reigning champions and will hope to break the curse against a Liverpool side that is finding its feet under Andoni Iraola.

The hosts arrive in buoyant form, having won their last five matches across all competitions since their only defeat of the season against Manchester City on 11 October. This marks their best run since Arne Slot’s tenure began last year. According to the BBC ^[1], former defender Jamie Carragher views Liverpool as the primary title challengers, though Iraola insists it is too early to look at the table.

A victory would see Liverpool move just three points behind Arsenal, whereas a defeat would widen the gap to nine points after only nine games. The atmosphere at Anfield, often described as turgid in recent seasons, has been re-energised by recent performances, including a comeback win against Villarreal and a Carabao Cup triumph over Chelsea. Iraola believes this connection is a key weapon. "We have a big advantage over other teams because this atmosphere we can create is special," he said.

The Basque manager has implemented a heavy rotation policy, making three or more changes to the starting XI in nine consecutive games. Iraola admitted he lacked experience coaching two games a week when he arrived, but noted that his playing career prepared him for the physical demands. "It's different to managing, but you do a lot of the job with the analysts... I think our players are very used to it," he explained.

Tactically, Iraola prioritises chance creation over possession. In their 2-0 win against Brighton, Liverpool had the ball for just 35.6% of the time, yet produced superior chances. The team is averaging 24.9 long balls per game, up from 21 last season, alongside increased high pressures and sprints. Captain Virgil van Dijk described the approach as having an element of "chaos" and risk-reward, noting the intensity of the press can leave them vulnerable but creates high-possession opportunities.

New signings like Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, and Ronald Araujo are integrating well, while youngsters such as Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni are receiving trust. As Iraola seeks to find "another level" in his tactics, the clash with Arsenal offers the perfect litmus test for Liverpool’s title ambitions.