On May 20, Andoni Iraola and Mikel Arteta exchanged congratulations following a pivotal day in English football. Arteta had just secured Arsenal’s first Premier League title in 22 years, while Iraola’s Bournemouth side had drawn against Manchester City, ensuring Arsenal maintained a four-point lead with one game remaining. At that moment, Iraola found himself an inadvertent contributor to Arsenal’s success, helping deny a rival that might have closed the gap.

However, the dynamic between the two Basque managers has since shifted. Now leading Liverpool, Iraola is poised to challenge Arteta’s Arsenal for the Premier League crown. While Iraola acknowledges his prior successes against Arsenal—winning three of their last four encounters—he emphasizes that his current Liverpool team is fundamentally different from the side that faced Arsenal previously, neither clear underdogs nor overwhelming favorites.

Liverpool’s defense of their title last season was unsuccessful, leaving them 25 points behind Arsenal. Under Iraola’s management, a coach noted for developing players and improving team performance though without a history of major trophies, Liverpool experienced a slow start to this campaign. Early draws against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest set a cautious tone around the team’s prospects. Even with a recent run of five consecutive wins, Iraola notes that only two of these victories have come in the Premier League, pointing to a stronger offensive showing in European matches compared to domestic competition.

Still, Liverpool’s attacking capabilities have shown promising signs. Forward Alexander Isak, while not quite matching his form from previous spells, has netted six goals in his last six league appearances. Additionally, Liverpool boasts a productive group of four wingers who have collectively contributed eight goals and nine assists across all competitions. Remarkably, though they predominantly prefer playing on the left, each winger has demonstrated effectiveness on the right flank as well — a potential advantage in upcoming matches, especially if Arsenal is without key wide players Bukayo Saka and Max Dowman, and possibly Christos Tzolis or Noni Madueke.

The Premier League title race remains tight. Manchester City still stand as possible contenders but face uncertainty amid the threat of a significant points deduction. Liverpool, having already lost to City at Anfield, must overcome Arsenal to narrow the gap. A Liverpool victory would reduce the difference to three points, keeping their challenge alive; however, a loss could deepen the deficit to nine points, making a comeback increasingly difficult.

Iraola cautions against premature assessments of the league standings, noting that the table only gains full significance once all teams have faced each other at least once. With both Liverpool and Arsenal navigating transitions and challenges, the unfolding matches will serve as key tests for Iraola’s evolving Liverpool side and their ability to reassert themselves in the title race.