Andoni Iraola has emerged as the frontrunner to replace Arne Slot as Liverpool manager with Jamie Carragher giving his verdict
Andoni Iraola
Andoni Iraola(Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
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Jamie Carragher has explained why he would have concerns if Liverpool were to appoint Andoni Iraola as the club’s next manager. The Reds opted to part company with Arne Slot over the weekend following a disappointing second season in charge at Anfield.
Slot guided Liverpool to fifth place in the Premier League, which was enough to qualify for the Champions League, but the Reds finished with just 60 points, which was 24 fewer than the previous campaign, where they won the title.
Iraola has emerged as the early favourite to become Liverpool’s next manager, and the Reds are expected to hold formal talks with the 43-year-old's representatives this week.
Carragher has now spoken about the prospect of Iraola being Liverpool’s new manager and explained why he has concerns about a potential appointment.
“We watch Iraola every week, no one can say you don’t love watching Bournemouth play,” Carragher said on The Overlap Fan Debate.
“If Bournemouth are on the TV, you watch them. You think we’re going to watch a good game.
“I said this last season, we were talking about the Chelsea manager and it was on a Monday Night Football.
“We were looking at Chelsea’s options and Iraola was there, and I actually made the point - so I can’t go back on it - I said I think Iraola is making a mistake leaving Bournemouth.
“Because the next thing he needs to prove is he can manage a European season.
“What he asks of his players physically, and when you’re in Europe, you’ve got to rotate, so all of these things come into it.
“I thought that would be the next step for him, just to prove he could still produce the goods in a European season and then he’d get his move to his next club.”
Carragher then went on to explain the differences that Iraola may face becoming Liverpool boss compared to life at Bournemouth.
The Liverpool legend said: “Do they get injuries? If you look at most of his seasons, the second half of the season, they [Bournemouth] drop off.
“I think last season was the first time they had a great second half of the season. Normally, they’re up there at the start of the season.
“So these are the things that you have to take into account, and then does the intensity actually have to drop off a little bit?
“So you’re not actually getting the full Iraola, because you’re getting too many injuries, you’ve got too many games.
“And then he’s actually going to be more of a footballing manager, you’re on the ball more at Liverpool than you are at Bournemouth.”