NewsAndoni Iraola on season so far, Liverpool v Manchester City and injury latest

The Reds return from the extended international break by hosting the current Premier League leaders at Anfield on Sunday.

Seven competitive matches into his reign as head coach, Iraola has been pleased with what he has seen from his squad so far but outlined where improvements can be made.

The 44-year-old sat down with beIN SPORTS ahead of the clash with Enzo Maresca's men – read on for the best bits from the interview.

On his start at Liverpool...

I think the international break is a moment to reflect because we have normally a crazier schedule. You go two, three days preparing the next game. Then you need, I think, a break, analyse how the season has gone so far. I think we have a good amount of games already to analyse and see the things that we've done well and things that I think can improve.

On targets for the season...

We didn't have a specific this points [total] or this position or this. No, I think we have to arrive as high as we can, we have to be the best team we can be. I don't know where this will put us but I'm sure that if we can give these players a good platform, a good structure, we will be there fighting for the titles, yes.

On what he wants his team to look like...

I think the goal is quite clear and I think everyone understands what we are trying to build. Try to be more intense, more vertical, but also you want to control the games and you don't want the games to become... for example, I think in Newcastle we played a good game but probably we conceded two goals in transition [and] you want to control a little bit more of the games. I think lately we've been controlling the games much more but we lacked a little bit [of] this offensive fluidity that we had in the first game. So, now it's a matter of balancing this a little. Obviously we want to attack very well and defend very well. But sometimes you have to choose or you have to adapt the team to what you prefer or what is the requirements of a specific game. And we are trying to balance all this.

On whether he would 'rather win a game 4-3 than 1-0'...

I said it, I prefer to win 4-3 because at the end you win the game the same way and the game has been more entertaining. But sometimes you win 1-0 [and] I take it!

On the injury situation...

I think Alex Isak and Cody Gakpo both have had to leave the national teams with injuries. Now it's a matter of if they are going to recover in time to help us in the next game or not. But right now they are both injured.

On facing Manchester City...

We've been unbeaten but they've won all of them, so it makes a big difference in their side. I think we need to be very, very good if we want to beat City because they've been especially offensively scoring a lot of goals lately. We know the names that are very dangerous. But I think also we've shown good defensive improvements lately and I hope we can defend the threats that they have and also hurt them on the other side.

On Anfield...

I think it's a big game and I think everyone is expecting to play, to watch, to be part of that game. I think we are playing against the team that is right now at the top of the league, so definitely it's an important game for us. We know we will have to be at our best and also I know that the people will be looking to help the team.