Andoni Iraola is set to take Liverpool back to the high-pressing team we saw under Jurgen Klopp, moving away from Arne Slot‘s slower build-up seen in his second season.
The passive, somewhat boring nature of Liverpool’s football towards the end of Slot’s reign left Anfield apathetic and caused Mo Salah to come out, demanding the Reds “go back to being the heavy metal attacking team that opponents fear.”
It looks like the departing legend will have his wish as Iraola takes the reins. While this doesn’t necessarily guarantee success, it should mean a return to exciting football.
“In and out of possession, they like to play with lots of energy and intensity – that’s a hallmark of the team,” the Bournemouth Daily Echo‘s Alex Smith told This Is Anfield.
“They want to be winning the ball around the opposition box and creating chances in transition.”
What the numbers tell us about Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth
The numbers back up what the reporter told us, the key statistic being how often Iraola’s former club, Bournemouth, won the ball back in the final third.
According to FotMob, only two Premier League teams won the ball back more often than Bournemouth in the final third last season, Brighton and Arsenal.
Bournemouth won it back 4.6 times per 90 in the final third, while Liverpool weren’t too far behind with 4.1 per 90.
Digging further into the details, the contrast in attacking style from Slot to Iraola widens further.
Iraola’s Bournemouth have averaged just 46.5 percent possession in the league, while Slot averaged 58.6 percent. Meanwhile, Iraola’s side averaged 8.6 high turnovers per 90 as opposed to Slot’s 7.8, according to Opta.
PL (per 90) Klopp Slot Iraola
Possession 61.7% 58.6% 47.5%
Possessions won final third 5.6 4.2 5.2
High turnovers 9.6 7.8 8.6
Shot ending high turnovers 1.6 1.5 1.6
Shots from fast breaks 0.6 1.5 1.1
Passes per sequence 4.2 4.2 3.0
*Stats via Opta
The bottom statistic on the above table tells a story, too.
Passes per sequence is the average number of passes a team strings together in open play before a turnover, stoppage or shot.
The fact that Iraola’s Bournemouth averaged just three, lower than Slot and Jurgen Klopp‘s 4.2, tells us just how frantic games can be under the Basque coach.
What about building from the back?
While the 43-year-old’s main principle of attacking play may be to exploit the opposition in transition, he will have to adapt as Liverpool manager to having more of the ball.
Despite finishing sixth, Bournemouth didn’t beat any of the promoted teams last season or relegated West Ham.
That indicates he will need to improve how he sets his team up to build from the back to break down opposition who sit deep, something Klopp, too, had to ameliorate.
The Cherries’ build-up play tended to begin with centre-backs, Marcos Senesi particularly who was comfortable on the ball, fizzing passes between the lines.
The attacking midfielder and No. 8 would then look wide or in behind for the explosive wingers to provide the goal threat.
That isn’t an approach dissimilar to Slot’s, but Iraola’s side are more direct and quicker to move the ball forward.
Exciting football is set to return to Anfield, but that won’t definitely mean instant success. Iraola and his staff will have to adapt to the pressure and difficulties of playing multiple times per week.
If they can get the crowd truly onside, though, that would be the first major hurdle cleared.
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