Andoni Iraola‘s appointment as Liverpool head coach will be a boost to a number of players, including those cast aside under the previous Arne Slot regime.
Liverpool have welcomed just their 23rd permanent manager to the hotseat since 1892 in Iraola, having parted ways with Arne Slot 12 months after securing a historic 20th league title.
It was a brutal yet necessary change, highlighting the standards that have always been expected at Anfield, and with it comes a window for a couple of redemption arcs under the right circumstances.
Let’s have a look at some players who may be more excited than others by the prospect of new management ahead of next season.
1. Harvey Elliott
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Monday, August 25, 2025: Liverpool's Harvey Elliott on the pitch before the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. Liverpool won 3-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
PL Apps (Starts): 5 (1)
All Comps Apps (Starts): 11 (3)
Goals: 1
Assists: 0
Fans waved goodbye to boyhood fan Harvey Elliott a year ago on the justifiable assumption that he had kicked his last ball in a red shirt.
And yet, the 23-year-old remains officially on Liverpool’s books having failed to amass the requisite game time to formalise a £35 million move to Aston Villa.
Following some finger-pointing from both directions (neither blameless), Elliott has effectively wasted a season of his career and will be desperate to reignite his form in 2026/27, be that on Merseyside or elsewhere.
One would suspect his preference, in an ideal world, would be to succeed at Anfield and, given the current lack of players who could currently count their spot in the starting XI safe, he might just back himself to impress the new manager early doors.
It feels unlikely right now, but there are few players you would be happier for if he did manage to turn this into something of a comeback story.
2. Milos Kerkez
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, February 28, 2026: Liverpool's Milos Kerkez during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and West Ham United FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
PL Apps (Starts): 34 (27)
All Comps Apps (Starts): 48 (38)
Goals: 2
Assists: 2
It wasn’t smooth sailing when Milos Kerkez arrived from Bournemouth back in August, but the Hungarian won supporters over as the campaign wore on and will be relishing the chance to link up with his former boss.
Kerkez thrived under Iraola at the Vitality Stadium, earning himself a deserved spot in the Premier League’s team of the season amid Liverpool’s title triumph of 2024/25.
With Andy Robertson now out of the picture, the 22-year-old will face even less of an issue getting onto teamsheets and Iraola’s aggressive style of play may favour him once more in unlocking his potential.
The left-back was hamstrung slightly from an attacking standpoint under Slot, and with uncertainty lingering at right-back, he may get the encouragement he needs to bomb forwards again.
3. Curtis Jones
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, April 14, 2026: Liverpool's Curtis Jones reacts during the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 2nd Leg match between Liverpool FC and Paris Saint-Germain FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
PL Apps (Starts): 34 (18)
All Comps Apps (Starts): 49 (28)
Goals: 3
Assists: 3
Had Slot remained in his post, a summer move for Curtis Jones was borderline inevitable.
It still feels a likely outcome, but with countless reports suggesting his relationship with Iraola’s predecessor was a touch frosty, there may yet be an opening to finally nail down his spot in the side with a fixed label.
Having provided adequate cover at both right-back and in midfield across the campaign, Jones could continue to be an invaluable option for the Reds given the holes that persist in the squad.
The question will just remain whether or not he is happy to stick around and find out.
4. Rio Ngumoha
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Monday, August 25, 2025: Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha celebrates after scoring his side's winning third goal, his first competitive goal on Premier League debut becoming Liverpool's youngest ever goal-scorer, during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. Liverpool won 3-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
PL Apps (Starts): 19 (5)
All Comps Apps (Starts): 29 (9)
Goals: 2
Assists: 1
By the end of last season, Rio Ngumoha had left the manager with no choice but to open the first-team floodgates – in part due to fitness issues elsewhere, but largely through earned trust.
New management could only add to the possibilities for one of the country’s brightest talents, with fans endlessly longing to see more of him throughout the campaign just gone.
Summer activity will provide an indication as to how much we can expect him to blossom in 2026/27, but there is no limit to his talents and he won’t be scared of a little competition.
5. Trey Nyoni
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, January 28, 2026: Liverpool's Trey Nyoni during the UEFA Champions League match between Liverpool FC and Qaraba? FK at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
PL Apps (Starts): 6 (0)
All Comps Apps (Starts): 14 (2)
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Trey Nyoni will have left last season behind hoping to have accumulated more minutes.
The gifted midfielder made 14 appearances in all competitions – 12 coming from the bench – but with question marks over a number of midfielders’ futures and plenty to do in the window, Iraola could save himself some work by looking right under his nose.
Still only 18 years old, Nyoni will undoubtedly grow into a player capable of producing at the highest level and the club will have to monitor that progression with caution, as they have done with Ngumoha.
A loan may suit him, but it feels more likely he will look to build on and surpass those appearance figures at Anfield as he heads into a new season under his third senior manager.
6. The Academy
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, August 4, 2025: Liverpool's Jayden Danns during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Athletic Bilbao at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Given the number of youngsters sent packing, be it on loan or permanently, during the early weeks of Slot’s tenure, it may come as no surprise to hear the recent reports of ‘frustration’ at the academy over the Dutchman’s lack of involvement.
Albeit at clubs of very different statures, Iraola has already demonstrated a willingness to nurture youth prospects and give them first-team opportunities where possible.
Naturally, there will be pressure to deliver results from day one and that can make taking risks of that kind tricky, but in the aforementioned Ngumoha and Nyoni, among others, there are certainly capable players waiting in the wings.
All coaches approach these things differently, but an easy, early win as Liverpool boss would be to show genuine interest in the academy, as well as offering progression routes where possible.