Iraola's First Anfield Test: Liverpool vs Forest

Anfield braces for Liverpool’s home bow as Forest roll into town, and the mood is somewhere between curiosity and concern.

Liverpool staggered out of St James’ Park with a point last weekend, rescued at the death by Dominik Szoboszlai’s 98th‑minute penalty. It was dramatic, chaotic and, for Andoni Iraola, far too close to the edge for comfort. Today, he needs control. He needs calm. He needs Anfield to feel like home.

Iraola’s first Anfield test

This is Iraola’s first Premier League game in the home dugout, and he is not expected to rip up his plans after just one outing. The structure stayed intact under intense pressure at Newcastle; the late equaliser simply papered over how frantic the afternoon became.

Even so, one change feels logical. Victor Munoz, the summer signing who earned that last‑gasp spot kick on Tyneside, is pushing hard to start. Rio Ngumoha may be the man to make way, with Munoz’s direct running and penalty‑box bravery offering exactly the kind of edge Iraola craves in front of the Kop.

The new manager knows the optics. Drop points again and the questions grow louder. Win, and that late escape in the North East starts to look like a launchpad rather than a warning.

Forest arrive bruised but dangerous

Forest do not come in unscathed. Neco Williams is a doubt after taking a knock against Leeds on Tuesday, leaving a potential hole on the flank that Liverpool’s wide players will be eager to exploit. The good news for the visitors is that Morgan Gibbs‑White has been passed fit after a knee issue, a huge boost for their creativity and set‑piece threat.

The headline, though, belongs to Liam Delap. The £45million signing from Chelsea could make his debut, and with that price tag comes expectation. Forest need a focal point who can occupy defenders, hold the ball and turn half‑chances into something more. Anfield is a brutal stage for a first act, but it is also the kind of arena where reputations are made very quickly.

Spotlight on Isak

On the other side, Liverpool are still waiting for their main striker to ignite. Alexander Isak laboured last Sunday in what was always going to be an emotional return to his former club. The atmosphere was hostile, the duels were personal, and he never quite found his rhythm.

Today offers a cleaner slate. No subplots, no old ties, just the expectation that a leading forward delivers at home. Liverpool need sharper movement from him, quicker combinations around the box and a colder edge in front of goal. Anfield can be unforgiving when a No9 looks blunt.

The ingredients are there: a new manager’s first home game, a big‑money debut possibly on the cards for Forest, and a Liverpool side still trying to show that last weekend’s late rescue act was the start of something, not a warning flare.

By full-time, Anfield will have a clearer idea: is this Liverpool ready to surge, or are they still one bad afternoon away from more raised eyebrows?