Liverpool made immediate Jurgen Klopp and Luis Enrique decisions before hiring Andoni Iraola

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Liverpool FC NewsFeaturesAndoni IraolaLiverpool settled on Andoni Iraola as its preferred target to replace Arne Slot, and it is reported that moves for Jurgen Klopp and Luis Enrique were never on the cardsParis Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique was not viewed as a realistic target for the Liverpool job(Image: 2026 Xavier Laine)Liverpool quickly settled on Andoni Iraola as its preferred candidate to replace Arne Slot following the Dutchman's dismissal last weekend, and didn't seek out the opinion of Jurgen Klopp.Iraola was unveiled as Liverpool's new head coach on Thursday, just five days on from Slot being relieved of his duties. The Athletic reports that Liverpool quickly ruled out Luis Enrique as a possible candidate to replace Slot due to the Spaniard being settled at Paris Saint-Germain.Meanwhile, a reunion with Klopp was never on the cards, and the German was not consulted for a view on who should replace Slot.

Once Liverpool settled on Iraola as its top target, negotiations moved at breakneck speed and it was apparent from the off that the Spaniard would the job.Liverpool was so set on Iraola that it did not interview any other candidates for the head coach position.Liverpool favored Iraola due to the intense, front-foot style he implements, but Jamie Carragher has questioned whether Iraola will be able to get Liverpool's superstars to play in the way that made his Bournemouth team so exciting to watch."What the tactical patterns cannot show is how the dynamics will be between a coach and players of a significantly different profile and personality traits than those at Bournemouth," Carragher said in a Telegraph column."Can Iraola turn Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike into a £310m pressing machine? Are they really that type of player?

Iraola uses 4-4-2 more than the 4-3-3 of Slot and Klopp.Jamie Carragher questioned whether Andoni Iraola has what it takes to succeed at Liverpool(Image: Nikki Dyer - LFC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)"Getting a tune out of £100m signings who expect to play is different from managing up-and-coming youngsters who treat Bournemouth as a stepping stone toward a bigger, higher-salaried club."Iraola may prove to be one of the great coaches of his era in Europe, whom Liverpool are recruiting at the perfect time, but he is a work in progress."This is rather like headhunting Klopp direct from Mainz, bypassing all the invaluable experience he gained at Borussia Dortmund, which meant by the time he landed in Liverpool in 2015 he was the finished product, and his presence was felt in the first press conference."We should not over-romanticise Klopp’s coaching journey, suggesting he never faced tough, problem-solving periods, especially when figuring out how to overcome low-block defences."When Iraola was strongly linked with Chelsea, my impression was it was too soon and he would benefit from joining a club who were playing in European competition, adjusting to the demands of three games a week in readiness for the next step."Instead, he will encounter challenges at Liverpool which he has never faced."Choose Liverpool.com as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.Liverpool FCAndoni Iraola