Programme notesAndoni Iraola: We don't just want to tap into passion of Anfield - we have to

Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon are the first visitors to L4 in the 2026-27 Premier League season.

Iraola experienced his new home in the pre-season meetings with AS Monaco and Como 1907, but is anticipating a rise in the decibel levels with points now on the line.

"I know for our supporters Saturday will be a day that you have looked forward to since the fixtures came out back in June," the head coach writes in the matchday programme.

"The first game of the season at your own ground is always special and I can tell you that it is no different for the players, staff or myself.

"The friendly matches we played here in pre-season gave us a great opportunity to enjoy the Anfield experience, whether it was for the first time or the latest of many, and I could not appreciate more the support that we received on those occasions.

"At the same time, I always knew that our shared Anfield journey would begin for real when points are at stake.

"Taking these first steps together is very much something that I have looked forward to because having been an opposition manager at this stadium, I know as well as anyone the difference that this stadium can make.

"For this to happen – for the stadium and the supporters who make it what it is – I know the responsibility rests with the players and myself to give you something to respond to.

"It is always true that if the energy is positive on the pitch it will almost certainly be positive in the stands. Feeding off each other can give us such an advantage, so hopefully we can begin our home campaign by bringing out the best in one another.

"This objective has been very much at the forefront of my mind since I took over as head coach in June. The passion of the Liverpool fans is something we do not just want to tap into, we have to.

"I have already said that this is a special club and one of the things that makes it so special is the passion of the people. Football is not just something you watch if you are a Liverpool supporter, it is something you participate in with incredible emotion.

"Again, the best way for us to feel this is to drive that emotion with how we play. Identifying with the people, with the city and with the values that the club has is a big part of this.

"If we can do this and take it into our games, our chances of fulfilling our own expectations can only be improved. This is our challenge and I want everyone involved to embrace it.

"As I said, Saturday is the start of our Anfield journey and I could not be more excited about what lies ahead.

"Yes, we know that the short time we have spent together so far means we cannot expect to be the finished article – last weekend at Newcastle showed both the work that we have done and the work we still need to do – but this is part of my excitement.

"Like everyone else, I can see the quality and also the potential of the players we have at Liverpool and this means I have a lot of anticipation about seeing them develop together as a team in the coming days, weeks and months.

"This does not mean I do not expect to win now, I do. This is our responsibility in every game we play. It is not about setting targets a long time from now.

"We have to challenge ourselves to be competitive from day one, which we have done, and achieving positive results in this period when we are getting used to new methods and also to one another is a big part of that.

"On Saturday, the challenge will come from a Nottingham Forest team which has proved itself to be such a difficult opponent in recent seasons.

"This is what the Premier League is about – facing teams who bring a big test and who will come to stadiums like this one looking to make a big impression.

"We have to be prepared for that. Most of all, we have to be ready to make the most of Anfield."

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