Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola says his side must find a fresh approach when they face Arsenal on Sunday, despite his strong record against the Gunners during his time at Bournemouth.
Iraola has beaten Arsenal in three of his last four meetings with them as a manager. However, he believes those results will count for little when the teams meet at Anfield.
The Spaniard stressed that Liverpool cannot simply repeat the tactics he used at Bournemouth. Instead, he wants his players to adapt and make the most of their strengths.
“It is true that I do have good results with Bournemouth against them but this doesn’t mean a lot. This is a totally different team, a different group of players in a different moment. We cannot use the same things we used with Bournemouth against Arsenal. We have to use different tools, use our players as good as we can and trust them.
“At the end it is going to be a matter of winning the duels, running more than them, winning the set-play mini-games and these sort of things you have to control against Arsenal.”
Liverpool and Arsenal Face Key Test as Iraola Gives Team News
Liverpool’s recent record against Arsenal offers a warning. The Reds have won only one of their last eight Premier League meetings with the Gunners, drawing five and losing two.
That victory came at Anfield last season. Dominik Szoboszlai scored a superb free kick to secure a 1-0 win.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have struggled on trips to Liverpool. They have gone 13 away league games without a win at Anfield, with five draws and eight defeats since their 2-0 victory in the 2012-13 season.
The Gunners have never endured a longer winless run there in their league history. They also went 13 games without a victory between 1975-76 and 1987-88. That run ended with their famous 2-0 win on the final day of the 1988-89 season, when they secured the Division One title.
Iraola was also asked about Jamie Carragher’s suggestion that Liverpool could be Arsenal’s biggest challengers in the title race.
However, the Liverpool manager played down the talk. He believes it remains too early in the season to judge the title picture and wants his team to focus on steady improvement.
“It is still October. We take one day at a time. I always say the first reference is when you’ve played against everybody once, so halfway through the season and then you can start thinking about the standings and this stuff but right now we are in a position where we need to improve and keep getting better.
“For the fans, it is good if they have expectations and think we can win but if you ask me, I still think it’s very early in the season.”
Liverpool could also welcome back Dominik Szoboszlai and Victor Munoz for the Arsenal game. Both players remain in contention, although Iraola stopped short of confirming their availability.
He said the pair had a chance of featuring, with two days still remaining before the match.
“I think they have a chance [to be involved] but I don’t know for certain. We still have two days but I think they have a chance, yes.”
