Liverpool have been given World Cup hint behind Andoni Iraola change
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In the latest Blood Red column, Ian Doyle looks at the World Cup and what Liverpool could take from the controversial competitionAs if there wasn't enough not to like about the latest World Cup, FIFA have served up one final dollop ahead of Sunday's final between Spain and Argentina.The emergence the curious half-time show could last as long as 30 minutes, as well as the winners being given NFL-style rings that can also be bought by a regular punter at eye-watering cost, has been met dimly by long-time supporters of the game.Throw in three-minute hydration breaks, countdowns to kick-offs, unique interpretations of suspensions and the seeming deification of FIFA boss Gianni Infantino, it has often seemed far removed from what has long been accepted football reality.On the pitch, matters haven't been much more encouraging, although the relative lack of goalless draws and serious foul play have been welcome bonuses.But the amount of memorable games can be counted on one hand - remarkable given there have been so many of them in a bloated 48-team tournament - while there have been even fewer great goals despite the expected main marksmen all showing up.Tactical innovation has been almost non-existent, there have been just a couple of good teams and hardly any breakout stars.With Alexis Mac Allister expected to start for Argentina and new signing Victor Munoz in the Spain camp, Liverpool will be guaranteed at least one winner by the time their World Cup contingent returns for pre-season training.Although nowhere near as dull as the 2010 finals in South Africa, this has been a middling tournament at best, the saving grace of which has been the efforts of the players to rise above all the needless nonsense that has gone on around them.And while the entertainment level has in fairness been much higher than the 1990 World Cup, there is a call that, over time, this edition could ultimately prove as influential as those finals in Italy which, thanks in no small part to England's run to the semi-finals and Luciano Pavarotti belting out an opera tune, opened the doors to a different fanbase and paved the way for the Premier League.If the legacy of this World Cup will only emerge over time, new Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola will surely have been paying attention to trends that have appeared on the pitch.And it perhaps explains in part why the Reds hierarchy made the decision to axe Arne Slot and bring in the former Bournemouth boss last month.One aspect of the tournament has been the proliferation of teams quite happy to park the bus with the proverbial low block and hope to stifle the life out of opponents.For some of the smaller countries it was understandable, although it didn't stop the likes of Cape Verde causing a stir or two. Where it became frustrating though, was in the knockout stages, when certain teams who advanced deep into the competition - yes, you, Paraguay - didn't even try to win.The over-eagerness to sit back was of course primarily the reason England saw their World Cup stumble at the semi-final stage once again when losing to Argentina in midweek.But it must be said those that became reliant on defensive resolve all ultimately failed - proof that front-footed, attacking football remains a far, far more likely route to success.Of course, Spain have been the exception to many of the accepted norms by playing the game at their own pace, looking to maintain possession and concentrating on getting the job done through pace in attack.It's the kind of approach Slot would say took Liverpool to the title in 2025, but was also his downfall last season - the Reds simply didn't have the right players and as a result were more often boring than brilliant as the Dutchman struggled to find an alternative.Iraola's style is perhaps a bit more closely linked to that of Argentina, who, while admittedly possessing a trump card in Lionel Messi, have developed a desire to win, a willingness to attack and an intensity that has seen them have no shame in putting themselves about.If Liverpool were guilty of being too nice a team last season, that is unlikely to be the case this time around with Iraola's Bournemouth renowned for their physicality and abrasiveness.
They weren't shy to pick up the odd yellow card or three.The trends from the World Cup, then, indicate Liverpool are likely to have to overcome many of the same hurdles as last season but now have a head coach whose preferred style of play has shown can provide the answer.The question now is if Iraola is given sufficient tools to put his plan into action - and how long it takes for his methods to become ingrained in the squad. An intriguing season awaits for the Reds.