Liverpool’s New Era: Finishing the Actions Under Iraola

Liverpool’s late rescue act at Newcastle has set the tone for Andoni Iraola’s early weeks in charge: high tempo, high risk – and a ruthless demand to finish.

On Saturday lunchtime, that new era gets its first taste of Anfield, with Nottingham Forest the visitors and a clear message ringing in the players’ ears.

‘Just finish the actions’

The Reds returned from St. James’ Park with a 2-2 draw after wasting a string of chances, only for Dominik Szoboszlai to slam home a 99th-minute penalty to salvage a point on the opening weekend.

For Jeremie Frimpong, the lesson since then has been blunt.

“Finishing your chances, finishing the actions, because that’s what gets you the result,” the right-back told Liverpoolfc.com. “You can keep the ball all you want but if you don’t finish then it stays 0-0 or they end up scoring, so [the message has been]: just finish the actions.”

The performance on Tyneside offered flashes of what Iraola wants, but also showed how raw this Liverpool side still is under their new head coach. One competitive game, one frantic comeback, and plenty still to knit together.

Learning Iraola’s blueprint

Iraola’s debut in the dugout came in that breathless draw at Newcastle, and Frimpong is under no illusions: this is a work in progress, and it will take time to fully absorb the Spaniard’s demands.

“It’s normal,” he said. “I think every coach has their own type of system that they want to play and it takes time to adjust and for us to know, and get used to it [to a point] where we’re comfortable with it.

“So, we’re still working on it but I think it’s going the right way.”

The tactical shift has already reshaped Frimpong’s role. Under Iraola, there’s no ambiguity: he is a right-back, not a hybrid, not a winger in disguise. And he’s leaning into it.

“This whole pre-season I played right-back and I’m getting more comfortable there,” the No.30 explained. “Last season was a mixture of right wing and right-back, but right now it’s just been right-back. I feel like I’m defending more, I’m recovering more [and] I still attack, of course. But I like it, I’m enjoying it.

“Obviously first of all, [I am enjoying] just being on the pitch because last season [I had] injuries, so just being on the pitch and looking at my teammates and trying to help them out [is good].”

More duels, more recovery runs, the same explosive bursts forward. The job description has narrowed; the responsibility has grown.

Anfield return and a warning on Forest

Now comes the first home test under Iraola. Anfield, early kick-off, a fanbase eager to see what this new Liverpool actually looks like when it’s not scrambling for a stoppage-time lifeline.

Frimpong cannot wait.

“This is home, this is where we’re comfortable at, this is where we are at peace,” he said. “So, it’s going to be a tough game, but we’re happy to be home again with all of our fans… when you’re at home with fans like Liverpool’s, it’s amazing.”

The draw at Newcastle still lingers, not as a disappointment, but as a reminder.

“Obviously we would have liked to win against Newcastle but I don't think it’s a bad result coming from St. James’ Park. But we definitely want to win against Forest for sure. It’s going to be a hard battle but we’ll see what happens.”

That “hard battle” line isn’t just pre-match politeness. Frimpong has done his homework.

A familiar threat

Before a ball was kicked in the league, the defender took in a pre-season friendly between Nottingham Forest and Bayer Leverkusen. It doubled as a scouting mission – even if it wasn’t planned that way.

“I’ve watched Forest. They had a pre-season friendly against [Bayer] Leverkusen and I went over to watch them,” he revealed. “They play good football, they are really good.

“I really like how they play. Obviously they play similar to Crystal Palace last season because of the manager, and obviously we had a difficult time with Crystal Palace last season. So, like I said, it’s going to be a tough game, for sure.”

So the picture is clear. A new coach bedding in, a full-back embracing a more disciplined role, a team urged to be merciless in front of goal – and an opponent whose style has already caused problems in the recent past.

Anfield will expect a statement. Iraola and his players know the only way to deliver it: finish the actions.