When Andoni Iraola arrived as Liverpool’s new head coach over the summer, the expectations were for a return of a more uptempo, press-happy side and signs of that have been on clear display early in the 2026-27 season.
What people maybe didn’t expect was a clear and immediate improvement to defensive solidity for a side that had been far too easy to play through last season, prone both to conceding naive goals and to a pervasive mental weakness that led to repeated late collapses.
Sunday’s 1-0 win
over Bournemouth, though, was the Reds’ third clean sheet in a row in the Premier League. It was also the third league game in a row they held their opponents to less than a single expected goal.
Add a top stopper like Alisson Becker to the mix, and that’s a strong foundation for good results.
“It wasn’t the cleanest performance we’ve had, but if you don’t play so well and you still win and keep the clean sheet I think this brings confidence for the team,” Alisson said following Sunday’s victory, which needed a few big stops despite the generally solid defensive play.
“I think at big clubs you’re not going to have much to do sometimes and then you need to be ready to make one save that can help the team. That’s part of my job, I’m there for it.
“So I’m happy this afternoon it contributed to the three points and getting the clean sheet, so well done from the defenders as well. Again, not the cleanest performance, we have to improve on the ball and sometimes without the ball as well.
“But we also improved in the second half. That’s what you need to do as well in games—adapt to the opponent, to what the opponent is doing, to the difficulties you are having in the match, and then fight against it and still get the right result for the team.”
Now the hope will be that a three-week international break that combines the normal September and October break into one long stretch doesn’t undermine the foundations set so far by new head coach Andoni Iraola.
This time, though, Alisson will be sticking around, getting some rest and continuing to train with the Reds after being left out by Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti in favour of three Brazil-based stoppers: Corinthians’ Hugo Souza, Coritiba’s Pedro Morisco, and Cruzeiro’s Otávio.
