Liverpool’s Anfield woes deepened as they suffered a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City, marking their third consecutive Premier League home game without a win. The setback came after Ryan Gravenberch’s red card in the 62nd minute, which left the Reds unable to hold off City’s attack.
Manager Andoni Iraola described the match as two separate contests, saying on Match of the Day: "We played two different games. One until the red card, and then after. For 60 minutes, the players were very good. The second game from the red card was where City were better than us." The loss ended Iraola’s unbeaten Premier League run, which had lasted 24 games across his time at Bournemouth and Liverpool.
Liverpool’s troubles at Anfield this season are stark. They remain winless in three league home games, a rare occurrence for the club, and their winless streak at home now extends to five consecutive Premier League matches, including four draws and one defeat dating back to last season. Despite securing wins at Anfield in the Champions League and Carabao Cup this term, their league form at home has faltered sharply.
Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock told BBC Radio 5 Live that the team’s current style lacks the intimidation factor that once defined them at Anfield. "Liverpool aren't horrible. They're an easy touch at the moment. They have too many players that are nice and they have to change that part of things," he said. Warnock added that Liverpool need more leadership on the pitch apart from Virgil van Dijk, who remains the lone vocal figure commanding the defence.
The decline in Liverpool’s home dominance is evident in the numbers. Since the start of 2023, the Reds have won just four of 13 Premier League matches at Anfield while performing better away from home. Their overall away record during this period surpasses their home wins, a reversal that has unsettled fans and commentators alike.
Ex-Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes pointed to a shift in Anfield’s atmosphere and fan engagement. Speaking on The Good, the Bad and the Football podcast, Scholes said: "When you go to Liverpool, especially when Jurgen Klopp was there, the crowd played such a major part. It feels like that's gone… I don't think the fans are quite on board at the minute with what's happening there." His former teammate Nicky Butt added that visiting teams now feel less intimidated by Anfield, contrasting it with the fortress it once was.
The contrast between Liverpool and Manchester City was clear on Sunday. City arrived with a perfect record and doubled Liverpool’s goal tally in the league so far this season, with 16 goals compared to Liverpool’s seven. Liverpool’s attacking issues were compounded by injuries to Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo, and Dominik Szoboszlai, who collectively have scored six of Liverpool’s seven league goals this season. Their absence was felt as Liverpool lacked cutting edge in the final third.
Lewis Koumas, filling in for the injured forwards, worked hard but lacked the composure to convert chances. Meanwhile, the club’s expensive signings Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola failed to make a decisive impact. A notable moment came in the 55th minute when Wirtz opted to shoot from distance rather than pass to teammates in better positions, illustrating Liverpool’s current attacking frustrations.
Iraola remained positive despite the defeat, saying, "You learn a lot in games like today. I am very proud of my players. They put the work rate and everything in today. It's a loss and we didn't get anything from the performance but I liked it a lot." Still, he faces the challenge of integrating high-profile recruits and restoring Anfield’s reputation as a fortress.
Liverpool’s home form will continue to draw scrutiny as their league campaign unfolds. Their next matches at Anfield will be closely watched to see if Iraola can reverse this troubling trend.
According to Yahoo Sports.
