Liverpool head into the final international break of the year in fourth place in the Premier League after a 3-1 win at Crystal Palace on Sunday. The result lifted the Reds into the top four and capped an encouraging start to Andoni Iraola's reign, which also includes a top-eight position in the Champions League group phase and a place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
Against that backdrop, our Liverpool fans' jury shared their positives and negatives from the season so far.
Fans' jury: Three reasons for belief
Matthew Whitty said ten games in, he is still not entirely sure what to make of Liverpool, describing fourth as "decent enough" but pointing to some strange contrasts. He highlighted three standouts: the right-wing production in the absence of Mohamed Salah's creativity, Alexander Isak's form, and the rapid settling of Jeremy Jacquet.
Whitty noted that despite an abundance of right-footed wingers who preferred the left and no obvious replacement for Salah, the right side has produced much of the team's best attacking play, with Bradley Barcola especially effective there. He also pointed to Isak's seven league goals in nine games, praising his movement and calm finishing inside the box.
Defensive resilience and squad culture
James Noble called Sunday's victory "pleasing and timely," taking Liverpool into the break in fourth place with a promising platform after 10 Premier League games – 16 in all competitions – under Iraola. He said intensity and coherence levels have been steadily rising as Iraola implements his methods, boosting rapport between players and fans.
Noble also welcomed Julian Ward's September return to the sporting director role he held in 2022/23, calling it a helpful source of stability. He noted the first-team squad's recent visit to Anfield, organised by Virgil van Dijk and featuring a trip to the LFC Museum, a presentation by the LFC Foundation and a group photo on the Kop, as a heartening indication of collective desire to embrace the club's culture.
Looking ahead after the break
Rhys Buchanan said the performance captured everything he has loved about the side this season, citing a new-found defensive resilience thanks to Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo, key players like Alexis Mac Allister clicking back into form, and Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz looking threatening.
Buchanan said it has been a joy watching Liverpool play exciting football again and expects it to get better as the season rolls on. He pointed to a big Sunday at Anfield against Manchester United after the break and a festive trip to Bruges as reasons for excitement.
