In the first press conference, coach Andoni Iraola emphasized that Liverpool must be an energetic, determined and constantly putting pressure team. Victor Munoz, a £34.5 million rookie, is considered one of the typical players for this new approach.
The 23-year-old winger joined Liverpool from Osasuna in the summer of 2026 and quickly showed the qualities that Iraola is looking for. Directness, the ability to break the deadlock, put pressure and stifle opponents are the strengths that help Munoz convince the Spanish strategist.
In the friendly match against Monaco at Anfield, Munoz only had a short time on the field but left his mark with a breakthrough past the opponent's defender. That is a positive sign showing that he could become an important option in Liverpool's new system.
Iraola wants The Kop to escape the passivity that once made a part of fans unhappy under Arne Slot. Therefore, the pressing ability of attacking players will play a particularly important role.
At Bournemouth, forwards and wingers under Iraola often put strong pressure in the opponent's half. Among them, Marcus Tavernier once led the team in the number of times he regained the ball in the last 1/3 of the field last season.
Munoz fits that requirement. Last season in La Liga, he regained the ball in the last 1/3 of the field 22 times, in the group of outstanding players in this index. He also ranked fourth in the number of dribbles, only after Lamine Yamal, Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe.
Not only possessing speed, Munoz also has the ability to pull the ball forward and create breakthroughs. He is in the top group in La Liga in terms of the number of dribbles that help the team move forward significantly. This is a quality that can help Liverpool become more dangerous in transition situations and counter-attacks.
Munoz's development journey is also quite special. He was trained at Barcelona's La Masia before moving to Real Madrid. However, the Spanish player had to leave both prestigious training systems to seek regular playing opportunities at Osasuna.
This period has helped Munoz mature and assert himself in La Liga. He is not a player who stands out because of his reputation, but statistics show his ability to make a difference in one-on-one situations and put the ball forward.
However, Liverpool also needs patience. Munoz tends to shoot more but the effectiveness is not commensurate. His expected goal rate per shot last season was only 7.2%, lower than Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz and Mohamed Salah. At Liverpool, he will have more opportunities but also have to make more accurate decisions in the final situations.
It is noteworthy that Iraola did not simply ask Liverpool to copy Bournemouth's playing style. "I'm not saying it's better, I'm saying it's different" - he emphasized.
That is also Munoz's role. He is not only brought in to add personnel, but also a symbol of the change in the way Liverpool wants to play football: more direct, more energetic and proactively put pressure on opponents.
After years of being associated with emotional football, Liverpool is wanting to find the "rock-and-roll" quality that once made the team's identity. Iraola has Munoz as one of the first tools to turn that idea into reality.
