If Andoni Iraola had hoped for patience among the Liverpool supporters for his methods to take hold, this was a clear indication Anfield is in no mood for such niceties. The sooner Iraola’s squad can grasp what is required, the better.
Unrest surfaces early at Anfield
Barely 25 minutes had elapsed on this first competitive home match for the Basque against Liverpool's bogey side Nottingham Forest when the undercurrent of unrest in the stands that became such a feature during the tortuous closing months of successor Arne Slot’s reign became apparent.
In mitigation, the dissent was aimed at players for individual mistakes or the hesitation that is occasionally inherent as a team adjusts to a new way of thinking, rather than any tactical alterations Iraola is attempting to engender. This, don’t forget, is largely the same crop that failed so miserably last season, and Reds supporters are evidently not quite ready to forgive past indiscretions.
Fresh start off to a rocky beginning
So much for the fresh start Liverpool had been hoping for with the change in the dugout, with a further shift coming behind the scenes following the recent 38% investment in the club from 1892 Holdings. The consortium’s leader and new Liverpool vice-chairman, Amit Bhatia, was making his first visit to Anfield since the agreement and witnessed first hand that it is going to take time for the fanbase to move on from recent events.
Quality and cohesion was lacking for large parts of another low-quality Premier League encounter that has become the norm for the supposed best league in the world in recent years. Beyond dispute, however, is this is a Liverpool team playing for their head coach and, perhaps most importantly, each other.
Fightback and changes ahead
Four occasions this season already the Reds have dragged themselves back from going behind, this time sufficient to secure a second successive 2-2 draw their second-half dominance and improvement at least merited. There will be more change by the time Liverpool next step out at home with Bradley Barcola’s £120million move from Paris Saint-Germain close to being confirmed. There could be others before Tuesday’s transfer deadline.
But if Anfield faithful wasn’t aware this season’s transition is going to be gradual and not without pain, they certainly are now.
