Jamie Redknapp has urged patience with Andoni Iraola at Liverpool and believes his time at Bournemouth shows why he should not be written off too soon
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp during a Premier League match
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp has shared his thoughts on Andoni Iraola's Liverpool appointment(Image: Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Pundit Jamie Redknapp believes Andoni Iraola's slow start to life at Bournemouth should instill confidence that things will kick into gear at Liverpool.
The Spaniard was appointed by the Reds in the summer following the decision to part ways with Arne Slot. The former Bournemouth boss was recruited for his front-footed, exciting style of play, which was desperately needed at Anfield after things went stale last season.
Despite the excitement surrounding Iraola's appointment, he's endured something of a mixed start to life at Liverpool. The Reds drew their opening two Premier League fixtures against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest but then secured back-to-back victories against Ipswich Town and Atletico Madrid.
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Just as things had started to look up for Liverpool, the club was brought straight back down to earth at the weekend with a disappointing 0-0 draw at home to Fulham. But ahead of Tuesday night's Carabao Cup clash with Tottenham, Redknapp highlighted that Iraola needs to be given time to instill his style of play, citing the initial doubts people had about him at Bournemouth as a key reason not to write him off too soon.
“It’s just about understanding what he wants,” he said on Sky Sports ahead of kick-off. “I feel like I’m repeating myself about every single player and coach at the moment.
“We have to be patient. There is so many new managers in the league right now. Everyone wants them to hit the ground running.
“But I vividly remember watching Bournemouth. Andoni started there and he’d taken over from Gary O’Neill, and Gary had done a really good job. So when he [Andoni] came in, I did a bit of research on the way he played and coached.
Andoni Iraola, Manager of Liverpool, reacts during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Liverpool FC and Fulham at Anfield
Liverpool has had a stuttering start to the season under Iraola(Image: (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images))
“I thought it was too much for them at Bournemouth. I thought he was going to struggle and he had an awful start, didn’t win in nine games.
“Then they won their first game against Burnley, very luckily. After that, the rest is history. He was absolutely magnificent there.
“But, it took the Bournemouth players — and I’ve spoken to some of them about it — and they said it took a while to understand what he was trying to implement. When you press, how do you play out from the back, do we play out from the back that much.
“Andoni will get things right and the players we’re seeing now might not be the right players for him going forwards. But, he needs time."