Andoni Iraola has not lost a league game as Liverpool head coach. He has not won at Anfield in the league either, which is the stranger statistic and the one he needs to fix on Sunday against Manchester City. Kick-off is at 4.30pm, the visitors arrive top of the table, and the home side's attack is in trouble before a ball is kicked.
The injury problem
Alexander Isak (thigh), Cody Gakpo (ankle) and Jeremy Jacquet (hamstring) all came back early from the international break. Jacquet trained on Thursday and Iraola expects him to be available. The other two did not train, and the Basque was honest about it: "we are not hiding", he said, adding that it is going to be "tough". Isak has scored four times in the Premier League already, so losing him leaves a hole at number nine. Hugo Ekitike is still months away after rupturing his Achilles.
If Isak misses out, 21-year-old Lewis Koumas is the obvious deputy, according to Sky Sports. At the back, Joe Gomez could get a rare start, with Ronald Araujo moving across to partner Virgil van Dijk, or Jeremie Frimpong might come in at right back.
Midfield, Wirtz and the run ahead
Iraola likes two holding midfielders, and at the moment that means Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, with Ryan Gravenberch the one left out. It is still a work in progress, though the early numbers are decent. After conceding twice against both Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, Liverpool have kept three league clean sheets in a row for the first time since the start of their 2024-25 title-winning season. They also lead the league in sprints, 636 after five games, while covering the shortest distance, which mostly reflects how much of the ball they have had.
Then there is Florian Wirtz. The 116 million pound signing was poor at Bournemouth before the break, and Jamie Carragher did not hold back, saying it was one of the worst he has seen the German play in a Liverpool shirt and that he would not have him in the team against City. Sky's Mark McAdam argued the opposite, that Wirtz does not become a bad number 10 overnight and Iraola has a record of finding the right role for players. With Isak and Gakpo doubtful, Wirtz and Bradley Barcola, the other 100 million pound attacker, may simply be needed.
The fixture list will not help. Seven games in three competitions over the next three weeks include trips to Brentford, home games against Brighton and Arsenal, and Chelsea at Anfield in the League Cup. Iraola said this month after the break will be "very demanding". His only previous league game after a Champions League night was the goalless draw with Fulham, three days after beating Atletico Madrid.
What City bring
Maresca's side have won all five league games under him, though this is their first match since the independent commission's verdict on their finances, and Anfield will let them know how it feels about that. Haaland is fit. Iraola is the first Liverpool manager to avoid defeat in his opening five league games since Joe Fagan in September 1983, but those five fixtures were kind. Sunday is where the schedule turns.
My prediction: a 1-1 draw. Liverpool have the clean sheets and the crowd, but missing their first-choice forwards against the league's top side is a heavy handicap, and City have the luxury of being able to play without much to lose. Iraola's wait for a league win at Anfield, which stretches back to 26 April against Crystal Palace, probably goes on for another week.
Match facts: Liverpool v Manchester City, Premier League, Anfield, Sunday 11 October, 4.30pm kick-off, live on Sky Sports. Iraola, 44, is unbeaten in five league games. Liverpool's last league win at Anfield was against Crystal Palace on 26 April. Sources: Sky Sports, BBC Sport.
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