Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola has provided his senior squad members with an important task to help the Reds throughout next season
Andoni Iraola in a press conference
Andoni Iraola wants big personalities(Image: Nikki Dyer/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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Andoni Iraola wants his Liverpool stars to show big personalities to help the club's new signings and young players. The new Reds' boss is not expecting perfection from his team but wants honesty and resilience to help build a bond with the Anfield crowd and a strong connection between new and old players.
Iraola has not seen many new faces arrive through the doors on Merseyside just yet, with Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Munoz as incoming players. The former Bournemouth coach has taken the helm with experienced heads such as Andrew Robertson and Mohamed Salah having departed.
Last season saw Arne Slot welcome a large number of new additions, including Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez and Alexander Isak. Incoming stars struggled to escape setbacks in form and injury as the Reds struggled to reach the heights of 2024/25.
Iraola wants to rely on his senior players to help avoid a repeat of that. The Spaniard has encouraged his stars to offer some vulnerability to ensure support from the stands.
"I feel that, having been here a lot, the people are very respectful with us," Iraola explained. "They are very passionate. They need to feel and identify with what they see.
"Sometimes we need to show our weakness because sometimes we live in our bubble and protect ourselves a little bit. We pretend to show that we don't care about what people say.
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"Honestly, everyone cares, even big players that we think they don't care. They care inside. You protect yourself sometimes, 'no I don't care because I am so big.' Honestly, big players are not thinking this way, but sometimes it looks like they are.
"Sometimes we need to see their weaknesses. They are not perfect. They will make mistakes. Show to the players that are not at the top level, the youngsters, the new signings, the support from the big personalities that we have.
"There has to be a process where we understand that it isn't going to be perfect, we are going to go through ups and downs, but if we do it together and everyone assumes we have strengths, we have weaknesses, but the aim of everyone is to arrive there.
"I think we will have the people behind us, I'm sure."
Liverpool remain hard at work in the transfer market to provide Iraola with greater strength. The Reds boss has admitted that he would like a wide player as a priority.
Bradley Barcola is at the top of that shortlist after the club moved on from interest in Yan Diomande.
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