Andoni Iraola has said it is more important for Liverpool’s forwards to exhaust themselves than perform for 90 minutes as he prepares to make an “emotional” Premier League bow at Anfield. The Liverpool head coach hopes his attacking options will be improved by the arrival of Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain and another winger before … Read more
As Liverpool’s title defence faltered last season and the team slumped to a fifth-placed finish, many believed that a lack of intensity in their style of play was to blame. The Reds would finish 25 points behind Premier League champions Arsenal, with Arne Slot paying the price as the club moved to replace him with … Read more
Liverpool hiring Andoni Iraola came as a curveball to some: Xabi Alonso was available for quite a while, after all. That was the obvious choice, too. The former Liverpool midfielder had been heavily linked to take over from Jurgen Klopp, before Arne Slot was even in the conversation for the job – so when Alonso … Read more
Many of Iraola’s attacking principles resemble those of one of his long-time managerial inspirations, the former Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa. The Argentine coached Iraola at Athletic Club between 2011 and 2013 and, speaking to Sky Sports in 2023, the Liverpool boss acknowledged this influence. “I use a lot of exercises from Marcelo that I … Read more
Andoni Iraola told his Liverpool team they have work to do after squandering a 2-0 lead against Monaco to lose a second successive pre-season friendly. The former Bournemouth coach last managed a game at Anfield almost exactly a year ago in the memorable opener to the 2025-26 Premier League season, a game the Cherries were … Read more
Iraola has two pre-season games remaining – a double-header against Como on 16 August – before their Premier League season gets under way. In two weeks time, when they begin their top-flight campaign at Newcastle, the question remains as to who will partner Virgil van Dijk at centre-back. Alongside Alisson and Cody Gakpo, Van Dijk … Read more
A new era is underway at Anfield again. After Arne Slot’s two-year reign was ended following a miserable campaign with 19 defeats in all competitions, Andoni Iraola has been charged with reinstalling the attacking identity demanded by Reds fans. Iraola’s Bournemouth certainly displayed that quality. The Basque manager delivered an aggressive, progressive style, utilising quick, … Read more
Across his spells at Larnaca, Mirandes, Rayo Vallecano and Bournemouth, streakiness has always been a hallmark of Andoni Iraola’s sides – but most of them will tell Liverpool fans that if he gets off to a bad start, he can still prove to be well worth the wait. In Cyprus, Iraola had Larnaca in fine … Read more
Dominik Szoboszlai believes last season’s frustration can push Liverpool to challenge for the title again but admits the squad must produce “something special” if no reinforcements arrive before the transfer deadline. The Liverpool midfielder upped his already impressive level last season, being named the club’s player of the year, but collectively the team went into … Read more
On the flight home from Chicago, as he reflects on the 4-2 loss to Leeds that ended Liverpool‘s United States tour, manager Andoni Iraola will have plenty to think about. The first-half display was arguably the best since he took charge of Liverpool, but the second was categorically their worst as they conceded four times … Read more