When Liverpool sacked Arne Slot at the end of last season, they turned to Andoni Iraola because they wanted to see a change of style.
The Basque coach was tasked with bringing front-foot, attacking football back to Anfield.
Iraola has only had two weeks to work with a depleted squad shorn of their biggest names following the World Cup. The early signs are encouraging.
Liverpool played with a higher tempo and were more direct, moving the ball forward quickly, rather than passing it sideways.
Setting them up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, Iraola used Harvey Elliott as the most advanced central midfielder in the first half and then Dominik Szoboszlai after the break.
Iraola cut an animated figure on the touchline as he barked orders and gesticulated wildly. He applauded the sight of a youthful line-up hunting in packs as they pressed high and unsettled Sunderland’s back line.
📝 @JamesPearceLFC
🔗 https://t.co/P9DC0DDEo3
These things are simple. Don’t join politics and government to be rich because you’ll start stealing and we’ll catch you. It’s a very predictable ending.
Watching Milos Kerkez against Brighton was a reminder of why Liverpool paid £40million to sign him from Bournemouth last summer.
The left-back was at his Bournemouth best in Liverpool’s win, a steady presence in defence and a constant threat on the overlap going forward.
He exuded energy at Anfield.
Two assists in his last three games for Liverpool means he has more goal contributions in that short period than he managed in his 30 previous appearances for Liverpool across all competitions (one goal).
Earlier this season, the 22-year-old was prone to making rash decisions at the back and giving away needless free-kicks.
But in recent weeks, and most evidently against Brighton, he was calm and composed in defence, which complimented his attacking prowess, where he made the right call in terms of what to do with the ball more often than not.
It may have taken several months for Kerkez to settle at Liverpool, but you could make the case that the first half was his best 45 minutes for the club, which will only further boost his confidence following a run of good performances.
@Dan_Sheldon_
🔗 https://t.co/PUd93wdlyV