Andoni Iraola has now reached 15 matches in charge of Liverpool, and the early picture is one of contrast and comparison. He has just suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time since taking over, with the loss in Istanbul following the 1-0 reverse against Arsenal at Anfield, where Liverpool failed to register a shot on target for the first time in more than 20 years.

Those two defeats in four days mean Iraola has already lost more games than Arne Slot did across his opening 15 matches. But the Spanish coach’s start still sits much closer to Jürgen Klopp’s first stretch at the club, and in some areas it is even stronger.

Through 15 games, Iraola has recorded eight wins, four draws and three defeats, with Liverpool scoring 29 and conceding 21. Klopp’s opening 15 produced seven wins, five draws and three losses, with 23 goals scored and 15 conceded. Slot’s start, by comparison, was on another level: 13 wins, one draw and one defeat, with 35 goals scored and only 10 let in.

Slot’s beginning at Anfield was extraordinary. He became the first manager in club history to win 11 of his first 12 matches, and by his 15th game he had built a sequence of 13 wins and just one defeat. That momentum carried Liverpool on to the 2024-25 Premier League title in his debut season.

Iraola, however, arrived into a very different situation. He inherited a side that was already substantially changed, unlike Slot, who took over a team that was already highly established. His context is closer to Klopp’s, who arrived with far less of a platform and had to build while going.

The mood around the team shifted sharply after the Arsenal and Manchester City defeats, both at home, but Iraola pointed to the earlier run of four straight wins and Carabao Cup progress at Chelsea as a reminder that perspective matters.

“It’s not easy in the moment because we react the same way,” Iraola told reporters on Friday. “When we lose a game, everyone is angry. But we have to have some perspective, and we know that in the process, [there] will be ups and downs and we have to get through this moment.

“We would love to have good performances, wins, good results, but normally it doesn’t happen. There are moments when you are in a good run like we were before Arsenal, now you lose two games and there are always doubts. But I understand, as a supporter I would do the same, it’s normal.”

Gameweek 10 arrives with another international break looming, and Sunday’s late meeting between Manchester United and Aston Villa stands out as the pick of the round. Arsenal are back at Emirates Stadium after a fortnight away, while Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur all face testing trips on the road.

Everton vs Coventry may not light up the weekend, but it still carries weight for both sides. Everton are aiming to move above Liverpool, even if only briefly, while Coventry arrive in decent form and have won three of their last five Premier League matches. A first meeting between the clubs in nearly 26 years adds an extra layer.

Tottenham’s recent surge is harder to ignore. Three straight wins, including their result at Stamford Bridge, have changed the mood around them, and their attacking play is beginning to settle. Leeds, though, are unbeaten in four home matches and may be well placed to frustrate them.

Arsenal look well equipped to handle Hull, who have already caused problems for Man Utd and Chelsea on their return to the division. The champions are again top of the table and appear to have steadied themselves after their Carabao Cup disappointment and recent Europa and league successes.

Fulham and Newcastle both come into their meeting under new managers and both have obvious issues to solve, particularly in attack and in recent form. Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, face a difficult evening against a City side seeking a response after back-to-back defeats.

Brighton’s consistency continues to impress after their win at Man City, and Brentford’s draw-heavy record makes them awkward opposition. Liverpool also need a lift after successive defeats, but Crystal Palace’s struggles suggest the visitors should edge it.

Elsewhere, Bournemouth’s strong run points towards another victory at Ipswich, while Chelsea should have enough to beat Sunderland despite the hosts’ historical success in this fixture. The round closes with Manchester United and Aston Villa, where a draw would do little to ease the pressure on the Red Devils.

Alexis Mac Allister has suggested that Liverpool’s recent outside investment could shape any future discussion over a new deal, with the midfielder acknowledging that several moving parts are now in play around the club.

Interest in what the investment might mean has already extended beyond the balance sheet. There is a clear sense that it could influence spending on infrastructure, major signings or even the salaries of players already in the squad.

Mac Allister is among those whose situation may be affected. Although Liverpool previously informed him that they would not be renewing his current contract, which runs until 2028, his strong early-season return to form under the Andoni Iraola era has reopened the possibility that the club could reconsider.

The 27-year-old pointed to the manager change, the arrival of a new sporting director and the new investors as factors that could play into talks over his future.

“Now, the manager has changed, the sporting director has changed, and new investors are coming into the club,” Mac Allister told journalist Gaston Edul . “Today I’m in a position when anything can happen. I enjoy being here a lot.”

That assessment comes after an uneven 2025-26 campaign, with Mac Allister now showing enough improvement to make a contract extension harder to dismiss completely.

“I know I still have time left at the club, which is what I want the most,” he added. “I don’t judge the decision they made, I just take my emotions and we move forward. Everything can change before I become a free agent.”

Julian Ward’s arrival as sporting director is also relevant, given his role in bringing Mac Allister to Liverpool from Brighton & Hove Albion. The Athletic have reported that “the door isn’t closed regarding a new contract,” while adding that “Liverpool won’t be in a hurry regarding Mac Allister’s future.”