Iraola believes Liverpool need to find a balance between control and fluidity in their attack.

With the international break over, Liverpool will host Manchester City at Anfield in a key match of the 6th round of the 2026/27 Premier League season. Andoni Iraola stated that the Reds have improved their control of the game recently, but lack fluidity in attack, and therefore need to find a better balance between these two aspects.

Liverpool defeated Bournemouth 1-0 in the last round of the Premier League thanks to a goal from Isak. After five rounds with two wins and three draws, Liverpool are currently in sixth place in the standings with nine points.

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola said: "I think the international break is a good time to reflect because our schedule is usually more congested, with only two or three days to prepare for the next game. So I think we need a break to analyze our performance so far this season. We've played enough games to do a comprehensive analysis, to see what we've done well and where there's room for improvement."

“We haven’t set specific points targets or stipulated what ranking we must achieve. For us, the important thing is to achieve the best possible results and strive to become the strongest team we can be. I don’t know where this will ultimately place us, but I’m sure that as long as we can provide our players with a good development platform and a solid tactical system, we can be among the title contenders.”

When discussing the style he hopes to cultivate for the team, Andoni Iraola said, "Everyone knows what kind of team we want to build. We want a higher intensity game, a more direct attack, and control of the game, rather than letting the game become completely open or chaotic."

"In recent games, we have clearly improved our control of the game, but we have lacked the fluidity we showed in the first game on the offensive end. Therefore, what we need to do is find a better balance between the two. We want to do well on both offense and defense, but sometimes we have to make trade-offs or make adjustments based on the characteristics of the team and the specific requirements of a particular game. We are currently working hard to find a balance in these aspects."

It is worth noting that Isak and Gakopo were injured during the earlier international break, so Liverpool will face some difficulties in choosing their forwards.

Andoni Iraola stated, "Isaac and Gakopo both left their respective national teams early due to injuries. The question now is whether they can recover in time and help the team in the next match. But as of now, both of them are still injured."

"We are currently unbeaten, but Manchester City have won every game they've played, which makes the situation very different for both sides. If we want to beat Manchester City, we have to put on a very good performance. It's a very important game, and everyone is looking forward to being a part of it."

In addition, Andoni Iraola added, "We are facing the team currently at the top of the table, so this game is undoubtedly very important for us. We know we must be at our best, and I also know that the fans will fully support the team."

Image source: Internet