Andoni Iraola has officially signed a long-term contract with Liverpool to replace Arne Slot. Although in the immediate future all preparation activities of clubs are considered frozen due to the World Cup, however, Iraola's task at Liverpool has started right now when the club is having too much trouble.
Arne Slot inherited Jurgen Klopp's good legacy and was successful in the 2024-2025 season with the Premier League title. Now, Iraola inherited Slot's mess and ahead are countless things to do, from the inside of the dressing room, professional work and healing with fans.
Identity is very important
In July 2024, when Arne Slot was appointed to replace Jurgen Klopp, at the Kirkby training center, Sporting Director Richard Hughes spoke about the identity Liverpool has always pursued. It is an attacking, enthusiastic and dedicated football. At that time, Richard Hughes also said that this is the culture that Arne Slot built at Feyenoord.
The Dutch coach has turned Liverpool into a team that plays with more ball control than during Klopp's time. In the 2024-2025 season, the Anfield team can both play offensively and control well, and when needed, also "concrete" very effectively. Fans at that time accepted Liverpool with this change because after all they also won the Premier League, so Slot's approach is considered correct.
But after only 1 season, everything broke down with the result of Arne Slot being sacked. Liverpool's attacking efficiency decreased, no longer maintaining a solid Anfield stronghold. They still tried to play control but the quality of the defense was too poor while the attack for many different reasons could not shine. Because they were too used to "playing slowly" last season, when they needed to attack total force this season, Liverpool was completely deadlocked.
At Bournemouth, Iraola is known as a coach with a direct attacking style. This is exactly what Liverpool fans expect. If he wants to get support at Anfield, Iraola must play attacking football, that is the only way.
Must be more decisive than Arne Slot in terms of personnel
Last season, there were many Liverpool players who were in poor form such as Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo or Ibrahima Konate, but they were still used throughout. Arne Slot did not have a plan, or simply did not dare to replace these people, ultimately the result was a plummeting decline.
When Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong could not meet the requirements on the right wing, Slot made things worse by withdrawing Dominik Szoboszlai to play in this position. The Hungarian midfielder played his role well without anything outstanding and the team suddenly lost the best player in midfield.
Last season in the Premier League, Liverpool conceded up to 20 goals from set pieces (excluding penalties), the highest number in the history of the league they had to receive. This is exactly what Iraola and the new team in the coaching staff must improve immediately.
The expensive duo Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz are an inexhaustible problem for Arne Slot. Even when not injured, Isak also appears lackluster on the field. Meanwhile, Wirtz has worked hard for weeks, but when the Dutch coach left his position, the German midfielder also did not leave any strong impression in the past season.
Isak is a good striker but needs to be placed in the right squad and have the effective support of Wirtz. Instead of finding 2 formulas for success for these 2 stars, Iraola should find a unique way to combine Isak and Wirtz in Liverpool's attack. From there, this expensive duo will be able to play together more often.
The role of club leader will now be placed on Virgil van Dijk's shoulders. After Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson left the team, Van Dijk must take on this responsibility but is too old (34). Iraola needs to find more new leaders of the team alongside Szoboszlai to support Van Dijk when necessary to boost the morale of the whole team in difficult times.
Connecting with fans better
Under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool fans always supported the team wholeheartedly whether they won or lost. But under Arne Slot, only when the team won did the Dutch coach hear the cheers. In the late season last, Arne Slot was repeatedly booed by fans in the stands, something unprecedented in Klopp's 9 years in office.
Iraola is not the type of coach who burns to the extreme in emotions like Klopp, but he must be more enthusiastic outside the pitch. Besides, the Spanish coach must also avoid thoughtless statements to avoid provoking fans, like when Slot said that scoring 2 goals against Aston Villa in the 2-4 defeat was not a bad result.
