Andoni Iraola has already suggested Liverpool will play the opposite of Arne Slot-ball next season

Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Rousing the Kop or go back to LFC Live.

A big part of the reason Liverpool supporters grew so disillusioned with Arne Slot’s managerial reign was because of the sluggish style of football the Reds ultimately ended up playing under his watch.Though the Dutchman regularly insisted that his philosophy was not so different to that of former manager Jurgen Klopp, fans felt differently, becoming bored and frustrated while watching their team.With Andoni Iraola set to be appointed as Slot‘s successor this week, supporters have been hopeful that they are about to see a high-tempo, attacking Liverpool team once again. Credit: AFC Bournemouth/Getty Images While it remains to be seen how that will play out in practice, an interview Iraola gave to Sky Sports while still manager of Rayo Vallecano in May 2023 sounded like a manifesto in how not to play ‘Slot-ball,’ which will have Liverpool fans licking their lips.Iraola does not care for control during matchesInitially, Slot’s tweaks to Klopp’s more chaotic style of play had been welcomed by Liverpool fans.

We don’t need so much control, not in every single play, but I think we have the legs, we have the willingness, to go up and down.”Put to him that his team also play ‘beautiful football,’ Iraola claimed that he prefers to put emphasis on taking risks with the ball and winning it high up the pitch. “We are recovering and regaining possession very high and that is why we have so much time on the ball, but it is not something we like.“I think we have to take risks when we regain.

We are dangerous in fast attacks, when we recover possession as high as we can.” Be honest, are you upset it’s Iraola and not Xabi Alonso? 👀 Sounds like Liverpool were always leaning towards the Bournemouth boss… “I think we can find more goals that way than building from the back,” Iraola continued. “Sometimes we score starting from the ‘keeper, with a lot of passes, but the amount you score like this is a lot lower.“We try to press high, to be aggressive without the ball, but with a different kind of structure.”It is true that playing this way with Rayo and Bournemouth is very different to taking the same approach with Liverpool, who will generally have more of the ball during matches.