FeaturePressing, attacking approach and solidity: Opta analysis of Liverpool's start to 2026-27

With five of 38 top-flight matches completed, LFCTV's Review Show used data from Opta to break down what we have seen from Andoni Iraola's side thus far.

Here are four topics of interest the show put under the spotlight.

The press

Iraola has brought with him to Anfield the high-energy style that made his AFC Bournemouth team so difficult to play against.

And the early indications are promising as Liverpool have set the benchmark in the league for high pressures when the opponent has the ball in their own half.

At this juncture, sides are struggling to generate long sequences of passes against the Reds because of that press.

They currently rank third in the division for fewest passes per defensive action.

This means that teams are only able to make, on average, 9.1 passes in a sequence inside their own three-fifths of the pitch before a Liverpool player attempts a tackle, interception or challenge.

A forward-thinking team

When Liverpool do get hold of possession, they are looking to attack right away.

Progress per sequence calculates how much closer a team gets to their opposition's goal during a single passage of play.

By that metric, only Manchester United (15.44) move the ball up the field quicker than the Reds, who average 15.38 metres of progress per sequence to date.

Liverpool's direct speed – which Opta defines as the average speed of ball movement towards the opponent's goalline during a sequence – has increased to 1.87 metres per second, compared to 1.84 from the previous campaign.

In another sign of more vertical play, their passes per sequence average is down to 3.9 from 4.2 in 2025-26.

Solid at the back

Despite the front-footed approach, the Reds are not neglecting their defensive duties.

They have the joint-most clean sheets in the Premier League, with all three coming in consecutive matches.

Across the games with Ipswich Town, Fulham and Bournemouth, their expected goals against (xGA) averaged 0.75.

Only Arsenal (0.81) and Nottingham Forest (0.96) have a better xGA than Iraola's team (1.22) after five matchweeks.

Jacquet's impressive start

It was already clear to the eye but the stats also show Jeremy Jacquet is adapting extremely well to the demands of the Premier League.

The 21-year-old, who joined in the summer from Stade Rennais, has the third-best aerial duel success rate in the entire division with 76.9 per cent.

And when on the ball, Jacquet is more than adept at contributing to the incisive attacking style his head coach is looking for.

Among all Premier League centre-backs, Jacquet's tally of 29 line-breaking passes into the final third is only bettered by Tottenham Hotspur's Jan Paul van Hecke (33).