Andoni Iraola showed what he thinks of Liverpool squad with 'high-level' comment
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Andoni Iraola looks set to take over from Arne Slot as Liverpool head coach, with the Spaniard having come up against the Reds six times during his time in the Premier LeagueArne Slot and Andoni Iraola embrace before Bournemouth vs Liverpool in the Premier League.(Image: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)Andoni Iraola took on Liverpool seven times as Bournemouth head coach, losing six on the bounce by a combined scoreline of 20-4 until his side won late on against Arne Slot's men in February.Amine Adli's 95th-minute goal — not long after Dominik Szoboszlai had equalized — saw the Cherries take a 3-2 victory on the south coast, and was the latest in a long line of late dropped points. It was a pattern of the second season under Slot: Liverpool would drop points in second-half stoppage time in 21 per cent of their league games across the course of the campaign.The year before, though, the Reds were at their peak under the Dutchman.
When they played Bournemouth away then, Mohamed Salah scored a brace, and Liverpool was on the march towards the Premier League title."Today you could see the level of the game, how they performed," Iraola said after his team's 2-0 defeat at the Vitality Stadium."It was a high-level game, the players — we should be talking about them. But with the decision made that a change was the right course of action, talks are underway to bring Iraola to Anfield.Andoni Iraola during a Bournemouth training session.(Image: Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)"His tactical philosophy is a clear strength, with his teams pressing aggressively with plenty of intensity," Cherries reporter Alex Smith told Liverpool.com this week."You can see the influence of his time as a player at Athletic Club under the likes of Marcelo Bielsa and Ernesto Valverde on the way he plays, but I also think his man management is excellent, as he has been able to shift the mindset of the club."I think his impact on the squad was made clear by their reaction to the announcement that he would be leaving — they were even more motivated to achieve European football to send Iraola out on a high."His work with young players, too, is brilliant — he is never afraid to throw young players into games and trusts them and their ability, giving them plenty of opportunity with the team.Get Liverpool's new 2026/27 home kitThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it.
Learn moreLiverpool FC have launched their new home kit for the 2026/27, inspired by iconic adidas strip worn during the club's 1989/90 title-winning campaign."I think one weakness has been, at times, his Bournemouth side's inability to break down low blocks. The majority of the time, this is not necessarily an issue and he has found a way to do it, but there have been occasions when they have struggled."Part of that is his own description of his Bournemouth side as a 'volume' team — i.e. having 15 chances and scoring a couple rather than five chances and putting away two."That means that sometimes when they do not create the chances, they struggle to score, but I think with a team with forwards of the quality of Liverpool, this won't be as much of an issue."Liverpool.com says: Iraola is clearly a very good coach and he knows the Premier League too.