Liverpool fans should expect to see a new-look team under Andoni Iraola next season
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 9: Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola during the Premier League match between Fulham and Bournemouth at Craven Cottage on May 9, 2026 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola has a clear plan for his new Liverpool players(Image: Getty Images)
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Andoni Iraola has already warned his Liverpool squad they must be at their optimal fitness level in order to play for him. The newly-appointed Reds boss replaced Arne Slot earlier this month on a two-year deal to become the second Spanish manager in the club's history.
Much has been made of the 43-year-old's arrival with his drastically different style of play compared to his predecessor a main topic of discussion. A proponent of a high-pressure and aggressive on-pitch strategy, Iraola enjoyed success with his system at Bournemouth, leading them to European football for the first time ever.
The Spaniard has described his philosophy - which some have compared to Jurgen Klopp's footballing approach - on several occasions and noted how important athleticism is in perfecting his style.
In his explanation of the depths his players must go to in order to "break" the opposition, Iraola has let his Liverpool squad know just how fit they must be to earn a place in his team. "It is key because we try to play with a fast rhythm," he told The Guardian in 2024.
"We don’t want the games to stop and you don’t have time to recover. I always say, ‘You have to ask for the ball when you’re tired.’ If you are waiting to rest before asking again for the ball or making the run into space, everyone can do this.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JUNE 04: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Andoni Iraola new manager of Liverpool Football Club at Anfield on June 04, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola is set to transform the Liverpool squad(Image: Getty Images)
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"But you are a Premier League player and if you are tired, this is the moment you have to push the opposition, when they are also tired, and try to break them. To do that you have to be at your best physically."
Iraola's principles should come as a breath of fresh air for Liverpool fans, with many supporters having criticised the lethargic nature of the team's football this season under Slot. The then-reigning Premier League champions were outrun in the majority of their league games.
The biggest indictment of their lack of running came in their 3-0 loss to Manchester City last November, where they covered nine kilometres less than their rivals.
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - MAY 15: Arne Slot, head coach of Liverpool, reacts after a missed chance during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Liverpool at Villa Park on May 15, 2026 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Arne Slot's side were outrun by a majority of their opponents (Image: Getty Images)
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The new Liverpool boss has already started to mould the squad in his image with the Reds having confirmed the signing of Spain winger Victor Munoz. The club triggered his release clause, which stood just under £35m, after nudging ahead of Newcastle United in the race for the 22-year-old.
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