Liverpool entertain Brighton in the Premier League on Sunday with Andoni Iraola aware of two shortcomings that are hampering his team

If Liverpool supporters had reason to be bored as their team toiled for much of the last campaign, there can have been no such complaints in recent weeks. The drama and entertainment continued on Tuesday when Andoni Iraola's side came from two goals behind to eventually beat Villarreal 4-3 at Anfield to continue their 100% start to the Champions League.

It followed another comeback victory in the Premier League at Brentford, who finished the game with nine men, and the knockabout 6-3 European success against LASK in Austria a few days earlier.

And while the end result wasn't as intended, there's little doubt there was plenty of incident in the 3-0 home defeat to Manchester City that remains the only reverse under new head coach Iraola.

Matters are likely to be no less exciting when free-scoring Brighton come to visit on Sunday afternoon in what could prove one of the sternest tests of the season yet.

Only three teams in Premier League history have scored more goals after seven games than the 23 the soaraway Seagulls have managed so far under Fabian Hurzeler, while they also boast the best defence alongside Arsenal having kept five clean sheets.

And that free-scoring approach will be of concern to Iraola given how his team, having conceded only twice in five games before last month's international break, have now shipped 10 times in four subsequent matches.

Indeed, just once in the last 17 years have Liverpool conceded three or more goals in three out of four games. In fact, that was last season when they did it in three successive games, another 3-0 loss to Manchester City followed by the Reds losing 3-0 and 4-1 at home to Nottingham Forest and PSV Eindhoven respectively.

Of course, the difference this time around is Liverpool won two of those three games. Iraola, though, will be aware such victories are not sustainable in the longer term.

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And there's one other shortcoming that long precedes the Basque's arrival that the Reds are still to properly address.

While Villarreal boss Inigo Perez admitted on Tuesday his side were unable to cope with the Anfield atmosphere, that has been far from the usual case over the past 18 months. And it could be argued that any pressure generated by the stadium is being felt by the home players, who play the second of four successive matches on their own patch on Sunday.

Since Liverpool claimed the Premier League title with victory at home against Tottenham Hotspur in April 2025, they have played 24 top-flight games at Anfield.

They have won just 11 in that time, compared to 19 in the previous 24 home Premier League matches stretching back to the latter months of Jurgen Klopp's tenure. In European and domestic knockout competition the record has been significantly better over the same period, with 10 wins from 13 games.

But too much charity has made life particularly difficult in the Premier League. Since Brighton were beaten 2-0 at Anfield in mid-December last year, Liverpool have kept only three clean sheets at home in the Premier League - against Leeds United and Fulham twice. And two of those ended in goalless draws.

While Jeremy Jacquet has emerged as the main central defensive partner to Virgil van Dijk, matters haven't quite been so straightforward in the wide areas.

Milos Kerkez is coming under increasing pressure from Kostas Tsimikas - who has started two of the last three games - for the left-back role, while injuries to Jeremie Frimpong, Conor Bradley and Dominik Szoboszlai have made Ronald Araujo a likely starter at right-back, despite the Uruguayan being substituted at half-time twice in successive matches.

Ryan Gravenberch filled the role well in the second half when switching from number 10 against Villarreal but Brighton's attacking prowess means Araujo is the most likely to start with Joe Gomez another option. Gravenberch is instead aiming to dislodge Trey Nyoni from the deeper midfield position alongside Alexis Mac Allister given Florian Wirtz will return.

Iraola is likely to be without Victor Munoz for a second successive game, and faces a tough call with his forward line given both Bradley Barcola and Alexander Isak will be expecting a recall to the XI having been benched in midweek.

Cody Gakpo made his first start since recovering from the injury that curtailed his impressive start to the campaign, and the Dutchman has already challenged the perceptions of his new head coach.

"Often we look at the new things like the new signings and the young players like Trey Nyoni who surprised me, the moment I arrived here and saw him I thought 'wow, there's a real footballer here'," said Iraola.

"But Cody Gakpo is a player who has been putting up numbers playing and performing for many years. Sometimes he isn't valued, and because he's just there you take him for granted. And he has surprised me, he really has.

"I already knew him and had to suffer against him, but his consistency, personality, I would say Cody (is our most under-rated player)."

Liverpool are already playing with more urgency this season and Iraola believes much of that is due to the manner in which the squad has embraced his demand for more aggressive, front-footed football.

"For me, the positive surprise is the players," he said, speaking to Spanish outlet El Boro. "I had a bit of that fear not knowing to what extent the players are going to buy into that idea, they are used to other things and already have a different track record.

"And I am a very pleasantly surprised because they have helped us from the beginning. They have understood what we wanted to do. Obviously we have to change things, it's not the same coaching Bournemouth as Liverpool.

"But if this doesn't go well, it won't be because of the players, no way. They are all pushing and trying to help us and I am super grateful for the players."