Andoni Iraola makes Xabi Alonso admission as Liverpool boss shuts down contact

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Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has praised "very good friend" Xabi Alonso and discussed growing up with the former midfielder and Mikel Arteta, as all three prepare to meet as coaches in the Premier League next season. Iraola enjoyed a relatively successful playing career, but has made more of a name for himself as a manager with Rayo Vallecano and Bournemouth before joining Liverpool this summer.

As for Arteta, he enjoyed playing for the likes of Arsenal and Everton, before joining the former as a coach and taking them to Premier League glory last season. As the childhood friends prepare to face off, Iraola has discussed growing up alongside the elite coaching talents, and how things will change heading into this season.

He told the press in Chicago during Liverpool's pre-season tour: "[Alonso is] A very good friend, since 7, 8, 9 we played in the same team. "Competition will be hard, they [Alonso and Arteta] are very good coaches, we are in charge of very good clubs, so we will not communicate as much." Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola.