Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola has been discussing his previous encounters with Alvaro Arbeloa, as the pair prepare for a showdown as managers.
Alvaro Arbeloa manager of Fulham before the Premier League 2026/27 match between Fulham and Crystal Palace FC at Craven Cottage
Andoni Iraola revealed his previous battles with Alvaro Arbeloa(Image: (Photo by Pedro Porru/MB Media/Getty Images))
Andoni Iraola has been full of praise for Alvaro Arbeloa as the Liverpool boss prepares for a clash against his Fulham counterpart in the Premier League this weekend.
The Reds are fresh from winning back-to-back games in the past week, claiming victory over Ipswich in the league before fighting back to earn all of the points in a clash with Atletico Madrid.
Attention turns back to the Premier League, as Liverpool looks to land another important win in the division to really kickstart the season.
In Fulham, the Merseyside outfit finds a team that hasn't started in an ideal fashion, as new boss Arbeloa is yet to pick up a single point, as he continues to implement his style of play for the long-term.
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While the Whites have been caught in some chaotic encounters so far, Liverpool could take it up a notch. Iraola's style of play is starting to be embedded into the players, with his principles of intensity and pressing now starting to take root.
It could land the Spaniard another win over his fellow countryman, with an encounter that takes him back to his playing days. The duo both represented the Spanish national team, but it was Arbeloa who was preferred there, as he cemented a place in a successful side in major tournaments.
Looking ahead to the encounter, Iraola reviewed Fulham's situation, as well as his opposite number, and told the media: "It is too early to make conclusions about any team after three games, and Fulham is a good example.
"The performances have been good and each loss has been by one goal. If you didn't know, you would think Fulham had four or five points at least. It has controlled games with possession and been comfortable.
Fulham head coach Alvaro Arbeloa.
Fulham head coach Alvaro Arbeloa(Image: Lee Parker - CameraSport via Getty Images)
"It is difficult to press well against Fulham players because they have good technical quality. The squad has not changed a lot, the core continues to be the same, and we know it is going to be a difficult game.
"We played many few times together with the national team. We were fighting, more or less, for the same position. He was more successful and played more games than me! We have not had too much relationship from there but we have had a lot of games playing against each other."
While Iraola was full of praise for Arbeloa, the feeling is clearly mutual, as the Fulham head coach was also very complimentary of the Liverpool boss.
Arbeloa told the media: "I played with Andoni in the national team, and obviously we faced each other many, many times in La Liga. I saw him when he was the coach of Mirandes, Rayo Vallecano, and after in Bournemouth, so I know that he's an amazing coach, and I'm not surprised that now he's the coach of Liverpool.
"He has been doing amazing work here in the Premier League, and now in Liverpool you can see they are playing in the style that he's always playing with his teams, and of course it will be so difficult for us tomorrow.”
It remains to be seen who will get the upper hand out of the meeting, but it sets up an interesting subplot between Iraola and Arbeloa during Liverpool's clash with Fulham.