What will Liverpool really look like under Andoni Iraola? Everything you need to know

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

The iconic former Liverpool manager showered the Basque with praise in January 2024, after Iraola had overcome a tough start with nine games without a win at Bournemouth to steer the Cherries to 12th before Klopp's Reds met them at the Vitality Stadium."When you don't play them at the weekend, I really have time to admire what [Iraola's] doing there," Klopp said. And what new features could Iraola bring to the Reds?"They have the freedom to risk a little bit"When asked by The Independent about his attacking style in January last year, Iraola gave an answer that was indicative of a tactical shift seen across the Premier League this season, but one which has been building for several years."I sometimes value much more a player carrying the ball and forcing things to happen," Iraola explained.

With that preparation in their armour, they can then make informed decisions and make the difference on the pitch."There are different styles and different ways to play, but all of them require structure, study, thought and hard work."Whether Iraola can implement successful attacking patterns without overly relying on individual quality to win games, though, as it felt like Liverpool did for most of last season, could be the difference between long-term success and failure for the new head coach.Bournemouth were only ninth for big chances (89) created in the league last season, behind Liverpool in sixth (100), but fifth for xG (expected goals - 61.9) ahead of Liverpool in sixth (61.3).They also missed 54 big chances, fewer proportionally than Liverpool's 64, but were only 10th for touches in the box (950).Statistically speaking the Cherries were unlucky to only rank eighth for set-piece goals (14), having created 15.8 xG from set pieces, significantly more than Liverpool (12 xG) who scored 18.That is definitely helped by having a player as good as Virgil van Dijk in the air. It is unclear whether Liverpool's first-team set piece analyst Lewis Mahoney will remain at the club, but he oversaw an improvement in the Reds' performance at set pieces in the second half of the season.Another potential concern is that only Newcastle dropped more points from winning positions (27) than Bournemouth last season (22).Liverpool know that feeling all too well and must show greater composure to either extend or hold onto leads going forward.The hope remains that, with better players available to him, Iraola's dynamic attack will be able to put games out of sight and build a winning mentality without having to rely on closing games out.The superpower that should allow Liverpool to do this is the Basque's strongest attribute and a familiar one to supporters."10 players behind the ball, I don't feel very comfortable"Speaking to The Guardian before the final game of the 2023/24 season, Iraola explained that, rather than adjusting his approach to a more conservative one when Bournemouth struggled through his first nine games in charge, he and his coaching staff actually doubled down on their pressing methods."In Spain [at Rayo Vallecano] we were a very, very aggressive team, a very high press," Iraola said, "but [at Bournemouth] we had to be even more aggressive because the standards here are really high."Every team is really pushing to recover the ball as high as they can.

As was the case under Klopp, Liverpool's centre-backs will be relied on not only to play the ball out from the back but also to provide cover for long balls over the press, which opponents will try to exploit with fast runners.Bournemouth were 16th in the league for xG (expected goals) conceded last season (56.8). This is what Liverpool fans have been crying out for.It will be hairy at times and a strong summer in the transfer market will be required to play this way consistently but this is the kind of football that makes coming to Anfield hell for away teams.Bournemouth were 11th in the league for possession with an average of 50.1% last season, but it would be misleading to say they didn't control games.The hope will be that with even better players at Liverpool next season, Iraola's front-footed approach can translate into controlling games with the ball more consistently.There is more than way to skin a cat, though, as the old saying goes, and there is more than one way to control a football match than slow, patient passing which prioritises retaining possession above all else.Iraola's appointment naturally brings with it plenty of uncertainty.