Xabi Alonso 'furore' addressed after Liverpool appoint Andoni Iraola - 'Number one target'
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SportFootballXabi AlonsoAndoni Iraola has been appointed as Liverpool's new head coach following the sacking of Arne Slot, with Xabi Alonso having joined Chelsea weeks beforePeter Crouch believes Liverpool were never interested in appointing his former Reds team-mate Xabi Alonso as manager, and is excited to see what new boss Andoni Iraola can achieve at Anfield.Forward Crouch played alongside Alonso for three years on Merseyside, and the former midfielder was widely viewed by many as the likely successor to Arne Slot should the Reds decide to part ways with the Dutchman following his disappointing second season.To the surprise of many, Alonso agreed a deal to join Chelsea shortly before the end of the campaign, when it had appeared as though Slot was set to continue at Liverpool.But after Slot was sacked last weekend, the Reds have moved quickly to appoint Iraola after his impressive three years in charge of Bournemouth.Crouch thinks the move makes sense, and feels that it was always on the cards due to sporting director Richard Hughes' relationship with Iraola.“I’m excited by it," said Crouch, speaking exclusively to Paddy Power.“There was a big furore around Xabi Alonso going to Chelsea, but I think the people in charge, Michael Edwards and RIchard Hughes, obviously had worked at Bournemouth before.“Iraola would have always been the number one target. He’s a top manager and he plays football the right way.“What he did at Bournemouth is nothing short of magnificent, given they sold most of their top players from the season before and still managed to achieve European football.“I liked the way he spoke about Liverpool as a football club, it feels like a really good fit.
He’s very respectful about the club and the fans.”Crouch also expects to see a Liverpool side playing a different brand of football under Iraola, with the Reds having notably played in a slower, more possession-based style under Slot"He’ll play a higher intensity of football," he continued.“They’ll be higher in the press and win the ball higher up. They’ll get more shots off on goal too, and the players will enjoy that.“It’ll be more heavy metal football compared to what Arne Slot’s football was.“He’ll definitely improve the players that are there, but they do have to spend.“They’ve lost [Mo] Salah, [Ibrahima] Konate’s gone as well now, [Andy] Robertson too.
They’ll definitely have to strengthen.“At least they’ll have a fully fit Alexander Isak and then eventually [Hugo] Ekitike back too.”FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE! All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook pageChoose Liverpool Echo as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.Liverpool FCXabi AlonsoAndoni Iraola