Andoni Iraola will take charge of Liverpool for the first time in the Premier League this weekend, with the Reds traveling to Newcastle to face Matthias Jaissle's side on Sunday
Andoni Iraola is trying to turn Liverpool's fortunes around
Andoni Iraola is trying to turn Liverpool's fortunes around(Image: Nikki Dyer/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
As Liverpool prepares to kick off its new era under Andoni Iraola, there are still plenty of questions that need to be answered.
More work in the transfer market is a must, for instance, while his inexperience as a manager at the top level will be under scrutiny until he achieves enough to quash those doubts.
One thing that we know with a good amount of certainty, though, is how he intends to set his team up. It will be more intense and fast-paced — a key reason for him being hired to replace Arne Slot — and the formation will be similar to what it was at Bournemouth.
On the basis of what we have seen during pre-season, with Curtis Jones heading to Inter Milan and Florian Wirtz viewed as a number 10, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai look set to be a double-pivot.
Alexis Mac Allister and Trey Nyoni can both fill in as understudies, but aside from a potential lack of depth in those roles — as back-up to Wirtz, too, where Harvey Elliott has been unconvincing — there is also a tactical question.
Last year, Liverpool was wide open in the center of the field and far too easy to play through. Yet, on the face of it, Iraola intends to set up his team in a similar manner.
Andoni Iraola during a Liverpool training session
Andoni Iraola during a Liverpool training session(Image: Nikki Dyer/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
With Gravenberch and Szoboszlai as a two, effectively with four forwards ahead of them, there is the potential for something similar to unfold again. Both players are very much front-footed and their first thought is always to attack. They have both operated further forward previously, before being reshaped and remolded in the last couple of years.
The hope has to be that Liverpool can press much more effectively under Iraola, and therefore that the extra legs that the players should have will be enough to bridge the gap.
There might be spaces to exploit, but Liverpool's forwards will be tasked with shutting off the passes. If it works, of course, that will be exciting. It will also allow Liverpool to make the most of big-money additions Wirtz and Alexander Isak, plus another potential arrival in the form of Bradley Barcola.
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In a Premier League where most clubs have gone functional and physical rather than trying anything attractive, though, it is interesting — admirable even — that Liverpool is doing something different.
"Riskier sounds like you are not effective," Iraola told Jamie Carragher this week. "Our approach, it is because we think it is the best way to win. I prefer to be a good team and to win things than to be entertaining."
There is no reason to think that Liverpool cannot do both, however. And with the make-up of the squad at his disposal, if Iraola is going to make a success of it at Anfield, it is going to need to be energetic. Such a style worked for Iraola at Bournemouth, who finished sixth last season, making the European spots for the first time. If anyone can make it work at Liverpool, it is the legs of Szoboszlai.
At the very least, Liverpool should be more entertaining to watch this season. Iraola knows, though, that he needs results too.