Iraola tempers Liverpool's title expectations
Liverpool could move to within three points of Arsenal with a victory against the Gunners on Monday (AEDT), but Andoni Iraola is refusing to look too far ahead.
Iraola has made a strong start to life at Anfield since replacing Arne Slot ahead of the season starting, with Liverpool sitting fourth in the standings ahead of the Arsenal match.
The Reds have also reached the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup after beating Chelsea on penalties in midweek, while they have also won all three of their UEFA Champions League matches.
But many have tipped Liverpool to challenge Arsenal for the top-flight crown this season, and a win on Monday (AEDT) would take it within three points of Mikel Arteta's side.
But Iraola is not ready to put Liverpool into the title conversation yet.
"It is still October. We take one day at a time," he said.
"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 has won only one of its past eight Premier League games against Arsenal – a 1-0 home win last season – but Iraola enjoyed success against the Gunners during his time with Bournemouth, winning three of his past four meetings.
"It is true that I do have good results with Bournemouth against them, but this doesn't mean a lot," Iraola said.
"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 well as we can and trust them.
"In the end, it is going to be a matter of winning the duels, running more than them, winning the set-play mini-games and those sorts of things you have to control against Arsenal."
Iraola could also be handed a double boost for the visit of the Premier League champion, with the Spaniard confirming that both Dominik Szoboszlai and Victor Munoz might be fit enough to feature after overcoming injuries.
