Anfield, intensity, rotation - how Iraola is improving Liverpool

Iraola is a believer that possession itself is not overly important but he wants his team to produce the better chances.

"Whoever controls the game is whoever controls the chances," he said, after Liverpool's 2-0 win over Brighton, where the Reds only had the ball for 35.6% of the playing time.

Liverpool went more direct against a Brighton side that likes to keep the ball and it worked. Liverpool are averaging 24.9 long balls per Premier League game this season, compared to 21 last term.

In terms of high pressures in the opposition half (165.9 per game, compared to 160.1) and sprints (128.3 per game, compared to 123.2), Iraola's side are doing more in comparison to last season but they are actually covering marginally less distance (111.1 km per game…