Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and ex-Bournemouth man Andoni Iraola
Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and ex-Bournemouth man Andoni Iraola(Image: Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)
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Few supporters appreciate their heritage as much as Liverpool supporters. But as the Reds stand at another crossroads following the sacking of Arne Slot, so comes the danger of once again retreating into the past.
When Jurgen Klopp was appointed as Liverpool boss back in October 2015, among his first utterances was a clear demand to the Anfield faithful.
“History is the base for us,” said the German on his unveiling. “It’s not allowed to take the history in the backpack."
The incoming manager had already deduced the Reds had spent far too long carrying around the weight of the glorious old days rather than freeing themselves in preparation for the challenge of writing a new chapter.
Klopp, then, will have no doubt been a somewhat concerned observer over recent weeks as the Slot era came to an end amid acrimony in the stands and the dressing room.
The social media post from Mohamed Salah - or at least one he permitted to be allowed on his account - calling for a return to "heavy metal football" may have been warmly welcomed by those lamenting the laborious manner in which Liverpool stumbled towards the finishing line of a tortuous campaign.
But calls for a return to the style under Klopp - and, in some cases, the reappointment of the former boss himself - are somewhat misguided no matter how well-natured.
Football has changed considerably in the two years since the German departed Anfield. Indeed, it's that shift that prompted Liverpool to determine Slot was no longer the right man to lead the club into the era in which Arsenal are now the clear benchmark for so many metrics, not least physicality, power, height and strength in depth of squad.
Not that the Reds should fully embrace those ways. As was demonstrated in the Champions League final, they can only take a team so far in the wider scheme.
Much, though, depends on how you define heavy metal football. Is it pressing with intensity, always on the front foot and usually at full throttle? Or is it merely ensuring every ounce of effort is left out on the pitch come the final whistle?
If the latter, then there's certainly much room for improvement among the current Liverpool squad.
That it appeared some players weren't fully invested in the methods of Slot and his coaching staff, most certainly during the final third of the season, was pretty much obvious, and it doesn't take a deep investigation to deduce which players were most guilty of not exactly giving 100% to the cause.
This summer's transfer business is likely to provide a further clue. And that may not be a bad thing given, for all personal gripes at tactics and a potential clash of personalities, those with a suitable attitude are able to rise above that. After all, it's the fans they should be serving most of all. They clearly were not.
Andoni Iraola is Liverpool's preferred choice to replace Slot with formal talks expected to start with the Spaniard's representatives this week after leaving Bournemouth following three years in charge.
Iraola is very much of the Klopp school, preferring high intensity attacking football which, as anyone who has seen Bournemouth up close in recent seasons, is allied to a surprising amount of physicality. Only Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur had more yellow cards in the Premier League this season than Bournemouth's 88 - Liverpool had 57, the lowest bar Arsenal's 51 - with Cherries having the second most in 2024/25.
But history is the past for a reason. It's there to be learned from, not repeated.
And Klopp more than anyone wouldn't want Liverpool supporters spending too much time looking back rather than forward. Iraola - or whoever comes in - must be allowed the time and resources to fashion the team in their own image.