New boss Iraola aiming to re-ignite Liverpool challenge as new season looms

Former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola will be hoping his style of fast-paced attacking football can help Liverpool return to the top of the Premier League as they prepare for the new season. The 44-year-old took over from Arne Slot in May after a disappointing fifth-place finish in the table, 25 points behind champions Arsenal.

Iraola's preferred style of play, characterized by quick ball progression, should be appealing to Liverpool fans who appreciate exciting and successful sides. The new campaign begins on August 21 when Liverpool host promoted Coventry City, with their first match at Newcastle United just two days later providing fans with their first opportunity to assess Iraola's impact.

While Liverpool won the title in 2020 and 2025 under Jurgen Klopp, a £400 million spending spree ahead of last season did not yield the desired results, as the team finished fifth with 25 points fewer than Arsenal. Key players like Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, and Ibrahima Konate departed since last season, and incoming additions include Jeremy Jacquet, Victor Munoz, and Alexander Isak, who is expected to return to peak form after recovering from an ankle injury.

Iraola's demanding style will place significant demands on the team in terms of stamina and defensive resilience, as he aims to improve upon the leaky defense that conceded 53 league goals last season. The challenge for Iraola will also include managing the promising but inconsistent performance of attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz, who was purchased for £120 million from Bayer Leverkusen.