Liverpool’s recent 2‑0 victory over Brighton on Sunday was a turning point that has reignited speculation about whether the Reds can mount a serious title challenge. The win was a clean sheet against a side that had scored 23 goals in its first seven matches, and it marked the club’s first home league victory since April. With five consecutive wins, including a dramatic Carabao Cup penalty shoot‑out against Chelsea, Liverpool now sit fourth in the Premier League, a single point behind Brighton and six behind the leaders, Manchester City.
The club’s new manager, Andoni Ira Alba, has been tasked with restoring the high‑intensity style that defined Liverpool under Jürgen Klopp. During the brief spell of former coach Arne Slot, the team struggled to find a coherent identity, cycling through multiple formations and conceding a club‑record 53 league goals last season. Under Ira Alba, the Reds have re‑established a pressing, transition‑focused approach, with a settled back line of Ronald Araújo, Virgil van Dijk, Jérémy Jacquet and Miloš Kerkez. The defensive solidity has improved, as shown by clean sheets in half of the league games so far, and the attack has begun to click, highlighted by Alexander Isak’s six league goals and the creative output of new signings Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola.
Despite these positives, Liverpool’s goal‑scoring record remains a concern. Eleven goals in eight league matches place them behind eight other teams, with Brighton scoring more than twice as many. The club has also created only six “big chances,” the second‑worst total in the division, and has struggled to convert fast breaks into goals. Wirtz, who has supplied two Premier League assists for Víctor Muñoz and one for Barcola in the Champions League, has yet to deliver decisive passes in the league. The team’s offensive output has been hampered by opponents’ low‑block tactics, leaving little space for the Reds to exploit their high‑pressing game.
The upcoming clash with Arsenal at Anfield will be a crucial test of Liverpool’s progress. Arsenal are likely to push high and occupy the Liverpool half, forcing the Reds to break down a low block and create chances in the final third. A victory would bring Liverpool to just three points behind the champions, further cementing their status as a title‑challenging side. Whether Ira Alba can maintain the team’s intensity and convert opportunities against a top‑flight opponent remains the key question heading into the match.