Liverpool's New Era Begins: Iraola's First Home Game Against Nottingham Forest

Anfield braces itself for a new era on Saturday lunchtime as Liverpool step out for Andoni Iraola’s first home game in charge, with Nottingham Forest the visitors in a Premier League clash loaded with early‑season intrigue.

Iraola’s Anfield bow

The Basque coach tasted a chaotic introduction to English football last weekend, his Liverpool side twice pegged back in a 2-2 draw at Newcastle. It was untidy, raw, occasionally thrilling – and it left Iraola still searching for his first competitive win as Reds boss.

Now comes the real audition. Anfield. A new manager’s first walk from the tunnel. A fanbase impatient for a statement that this transition will not mean a step back.

Liverpool need momentum. So do Forest. Oliver Glasner brings his team to Merseyside knowing an early scalp would send a jolt through the division and inject belief into his own project.

Bold call in attack

Iraola has not tiptoed into his first home game. He has gone straight for a big selection call.

Munoz is in from the start, thrown into the Liverpool front line for his first major audition at Anfield. The price for that decision is Rio Ngumoha, who drops to the bench after starting at St James’ Park.

The message is clear: this Liverpool side will be aggressive. Munoz joins a forward unit already bristling with talent. Cody Gakpo keeps his place and, with it, the spotlight.

The Dutchman sits at the centre of a transfer storm, with Tottenham pushing hard to lure him away. Yet on this evidence he remains central to Iraola’s plans, trusted again to lead from the front rather than sit out the noise.

Around him, the creativity and firepower look formidable. Florian Wirtz, one of Europe’s most exciting young playmakers, and Alexander Isak, a striker who thrives on movement and space, complete a front line that promises constant menace. For Forest’s back four, there will be no easing into the afternoon.

Defence built on youth and authority

At the other end, Iraola has doubled down on a defensive partnership that blends experience and potential.

Jeremy Jacquet, the highly rated young centre-back, keeps his place after starting at Newcastle. He lines up again alongside Virgil van Dijk, the captain and defensive reference point for this new-look side. Jacquet’s retention is another signal from Iraola: reputations alone will not dictate selection, performances will.

It also means Ronald Araujo, the high-profile loan arrival, must wait. The Uruguayan defender settles for a place on the bench, a reminder of the competition brewing at the heart of Liverpool’s back line once everyone is fully fit.

Injury strain in key areas

Not everything is under Iraola’s control. The injury list still bites hard.

Up front, Hugo Ekitike remains absent as he continues his rehabilitation from the serious Achilles injury suffered in April. His absence removes another option in a season where fixture congestion will demand depth.

Defensively, the situation is even more delicate. Joe Gomez is still sidelined with a muscle problem, depriving Liverpool of a versatile, experienced option across the back line. Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley are also working their way back from knee injuries, leaving Iraola with fewer levers to pull if the game turns chaotic.

So the stage is set: a new manager’s first Anfield bow, a reshaped attack, a defence built on a bold blend of youth and leadership, and a squad already tested by injuries.

Now the question is simple: does Iraola’s Liverpool announce itself with authority, or does Forest crash the party and turn this landmark day into an early warning sign for the season ahead?