After failing to defend their Premier League title this season, Liverpool made the surprising decision to change their head coach. Arne Slot is out, and Andoni Iraola will serve as his replacement, as the Reds plan to improve on their fifth-place finish in the English top-flight.
But Slot is not the only person set to leave Anfield this summer, as Mohamed Salah had his contract terminated. And suddenly, two of the most important figures from the 2024-25 championship-winning team will no longer be there next season.
With Iraola at the helm, the Spaniard will face the huge challenge of turning the Reds into viable contenders anew. His work will be cut out for him, as Liverpool are also in the Champions League and other domestic competitions: the EFL and FA Cups.
Today, SBOTOP attempts to break down how Liverpool will look under Iraola’s guidance.
How Iraola got the Liverpool job
Liverpool’s decision to fire Arne Slot caught everyone by surprise since the Dutchman led them to win the Premier League title a season ago. Slot’s turbulent sophomore campaign at Anfield ultimately convinced the front office of the need for a change in the dressing room.
After securing a 2-1 win over Southampton to advance to the EFL Cup fourth round, the Reds lost six of their next seven games across all competitions. Many believe that their 4-1 loss to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League in November was a “breaking point moment” for the club, as Slot’s tactics have been under scrutiny. It also didn’t help that Mohamed Salah undermined Slot’s authority, as the Egyptian talisman accused the Dutchman of throwing him under the bus during a stretch in November and December.
Liverpool split their league matches against Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth, who finished just behind them in the standings, only three points apart. Under the Spaniard, the Cherries qualified for the Europa League for the first time, despite losing some of their key players a few months ago.
When Iraola confirmed that he’ll leave Bournemouth for good at the end of the season, he had attracted significant interest from rival clubs in England and abroad. Liverpool reportedly approached him first, and the allure of coaching one of the biggest clubs in the world was too good to resist for Iraola.
More opportunities for the Liverpool youngsters?
Andoni Iraola built his success at Bournemouth through his high-octane brand of football, which Liverpool fans are already familiar with. Under then-head coach Jürgen Klopp, the Reds played with “heavy metal football,” which made Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Roberto Firmino turn into one of the most formidable attacking triumvirates in the world after they were virtual unknowns in the years prior.
Perhaps the front office thinks that Iraola could recreate what Klopp did before, as the Spaniard has shown a knack for unearthing young gems. At Bournemouth, he turned Eli Junior Kroupi, Antoine Semenyo, Alex Scott, Illia Zabarnyi, and Dean Huijsen, among others, into some of the world’s top young talents, and some have moved to bigger clubs. This season, Kroupi set the Premier League record for the most goals scored by a teenager in his debut campaign (13 goals), making him the best recent example.
Overall, Iraola has the young pieces to build around at Liverpool. He’ll be reunited with his former player, Milos Kerkez. He’ll also get to work with the likes of Florian Wirtz, Rio Ngumoha, Trey Nyoni, Jeremie Frimpong, Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Alexander Isak. Virgil van Dijk’s veteran leadership should also ease Iraola’s transition.
Liverpool could be busy in the summer transfer window
After spending almost half a billion on transfers last offseason, Liverpool are expected to do more this summer, especially after already losing Mohamed Salah, Ibrahima Konate, and Andy Robertson. Liverpool have been recently linked to several targets, per the Premier League 2026 updates, including RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande and Sporting’s Goncalo Inacio, while a sensational reunion with Al-Hilal’s Darwin Nunez is also reportedly in the cards.
The Reds could also raid the Cherries for reinforcements, although it’s unclear who Iraola might target. Moreover, Bournemouth are reportedly keen on keeping their core this offseason to avoid compromising their depth (and Premier League 2026 odds) ahead of their first European foray.
Leaving Bournemouth to join Liverpool is undoubtedly a big step up for Iraola, but the club hierarchy believes he can thrive in a more demanding environment. After so much negativity dragged down the mood at Anfield this year, there’s a sense of excitement about Iraola’s arrival, as it is a clean slate for everyone.
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