Andoni Iraola 'personality' fears dismissed as Liverpool decision questioned

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SportFootballLiverpool FCLiverpool have been told Andoni Iraola can change the playing style after decision to sack Arne SlotAndoni Iraola has been backed to improve Liverpool's playing style with fears over the Spanuard having the "right personality" to manage the Reds dismissed.Iraola was confirmed as the new head coach at Anfield on Thursday after putting pen to paper on a two-year contract to replace the sacked Arne Slot.Slot was axed after a disappointing defence of the Premier League title, which prompted criticism of Liverpool's playing style.And former Leicester City, Arsenal and England striker Alan Smith, now a long-time media pundit, has no doubt Iraola can make an impact at Anfield."I think he can certainly change the style and improve it," said Smith. "And I hope he does well."A lot of people are saying, has he got the right personality?

Because he’s a little reserved, you might say, but who knows what he’s like on the training ground? He can’t be that reserved."So I’d love to see him do well because he produces such exciting football, or certainly did at Bournemouth."Smith believes Liverpool's hand was forced regards sacking Slot due to the availability of Iraola following his decision to leave Bournemouth at the end of the season after three years on the South Coast."You never know what’s going on behind the scenes, whether there’s a rift between players and manager; certainly there was with him (Slot) and the players," he added."Maybe it’s the style of football and not only that, the fact that a manager like Iraola was on the market."I think if you’re the owners, you’re thinking somebody’s going to get him, and he’s going to do well, and if it starts badly at Liverpool we’ve missed the boat.

So, I think there’s a big element of that, the fact that somebody like that was available."Speaking to BestBettingSites.co.uk, Smith added: "I think it surprised everybody how far they fell. So it was surprising, definitely."And obviously, Diogo Jota’s passing would have hit everybody like a sledgehammer.