Andoni Iraola Is Backed To Get Liverpool To The “Top Of The Table Very Soon” If One Thing Happens
This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.
Former Valencia and Middlesbrough midfielder Gaizka Mendieta believes Liverpool can challenge for the Premier League title under the management of Andoni Iraola.
Despite initial teething problems, Mendieta said he is backing his fellow Basque to be a success at Anfield as long as he is afforded time by the fans to make his mark:
Most Read on Walk On
“I think Andoni Iraola needs time. Again, time and football do not always go hand in hand. This is especially true for clubs like Liverpool, one of the biggest in the Premier League. But he needs that time.”
“There are a lot of players who didn’t work out last season, plus a new manager, new systems, new training methodologies, and new signings. There are a lot of things that need to be set in place.”
“He is a proven manager. At Bournemouth, Rayo Vallecano, and everywhere else he’s been, he has delivered. I hope he is given time, and I hope the Liverpool fans and the club understand that and give him the opportunity to succeed. I’m sure he’ll have them at the top of the table very soon.”
Iraola is facing plenty of challenges
The fact is that the 44-year-old has never managed a club the size of Liverpool before, and as Mendieta points out, that comes with its own baggage.
When you also consider the unbalanced squad that Iraola has been handed by sporting director Richard Hughes, he has a task on his hands in getting this team playing in a style that matches his philosophy.
Buy a brand new 2026/27 Liverpool third shirt from Fanatics here
A top 5 finish for Liverpool is the main goal
A title challenge this season was never on the cards. There has been too much disruption in recent months both on and off the pitch. Champions League qualification should be the focus.
Iraola’s main priority is to get the best out of the players he has and to start implementing a style of play which supporters are happy with. The hope is that, by the end of the season, a new Liverpool team has emerged that is set up for bigger and greater things in the future – once the holes in the squad are addressed next year.
Want more news on Liverpool? Add Walk On as a preferred source on Google