Andoni Iraola shares his thoughts on whether Liverpool are in the Premier League title race

Liverpool vs Arsenal: Iraola keeps it measured as Isak drives momentum Eight league games into Andoni Iraola's spell at Anfield, the temperature has changed. Liverpool were not widely placed among the front-runners before the season started, after ending the last campaign in fifth.

Liverpool sit fourth with 15 points, four wins, three draws and one defeat. The numbers matter, but so does the sequence.

Since the 3-0 home loss to Manchester City on 11 October, a game shaped by Ryan Gravenberch's red card, Liverpool have gone five matches unbeaten in all competitions and have started to build a rhythm. That run has included a 6-3 win at LASK, a 2-1 victory at Brentford, a 4-3 success against Villarreal and a 2-0 result over Brighton.

On Wednesday, Liverpool also came through against Chelsea in the EFL Cup after a 1-1 draw, winning on penalties at Anfield. It is not perfect, and nobody serious would claim it is, but it is progress.

Alexander Isak form changes Liverpool outlook The biggest reason is simple, Alexander Isak. He has scored six goals in his last six Premier League appearances, accounting for two-thirds of Liverpool's league goals in that stretch.

When a centre-forward gives you that sort of return, he changes the shape of every conversation around a team. Arsenal arrive at Anfield with 21 points, level with Manchester City and six ahead of Liverpool.

Beat them, and the gap is down to three. Lose, and the table starts to look more familiar again.

Andoni Iraola sets realistic tone before Arsenal clash Iraola was careful when asked whether supporters can start dreaming about the title. "It's good if they have expectations and think we can win," Iraola said.

There is no value in pretending October decides anything. Iraola made that point clearly: "It's still October, one game at a time."