EXCLUSIVE: Former Premier League ace Richard Dunne believes Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola will be a success on Merseyside, despite the Spaniard enduring an undulating start to life on Merseyside.
Andoni Iraola is the new Liverpool boss
Andoni Iraola is the new Liverpool boss(Image: Getty Images)
Former Premier League defender Richard Dunne has backed Andoni Iraola to achieve success at Liverpool despite an undulating start to life on Merseyside.
With Arne Slot being dismissed as Liverpool boss at the end of the 2025/26 season after guiding the Reds to the Premier League title the year prior, Iraola was appointed this past summer as the Dutchman's successor. The new season has been a mixed one so far for Iraola, with the Reds flashing positive signs on the pitch under the Spaniard following a challenging summer transfer window.
Liverpool currently sits eighth in the Premier League table after four games, having won once and drawn its other three games. The Reds' lone Premier League win came against newly promoted Ipswich, with Alexander Isak scoring twice in a 2-0 win.
However, the other three games have seen Liverpool frustrated. On the opening day of the season, the Reds drew 2-2 with Newcastle in a thrilling game at St. James' Park, punctuated by Dominik Szoboszlai's injury-time penalty equalizer.
Another 2-2 draw, this time against Nottingham Forest, followed the Newcastle stalemate, before Liverpool drew its most recent Premier League clash 0-0 with Fulham, the type of game the Reds should win if they harbor hopes of being successful this term.
In the Champions League, the Reds came from 1-0 down to beat Atletico Madrid 2-1, while in the Carabao Cup, Liverpool dumped Tottenham out of the competition earlier this week with a 3-1 win at Anfield.
Despite the frustrations, former Manchester City captain Richard Dunne believes Iraola is the right man to lead Liverpool forward, with the ex-Premier League ace of the belief that the Reds' unbeaten start is proof of that.
Iraola has had a mixed start in charge of Liverpool
Iraola has had a mixed start in charge of Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
Speaking to Liverpool.com, via OLBG, Dunne said, "Yeah, I do. I know they have their issues, and the results probably haven’t been what they would have wanted at the start of the season, but with a new manager coming in and them managing to stay unbeaten, I think that says a lot about them.
"It shows a resilience in Liverpool which they probably didn’t have at times last year. They looked a little bit lethargic and slow and soft last year, whereas this year they seem to have that bit of fight.
"They came back and got a late goal at Newcastle to equalize. When you’re not winning games, it’s important that you’re not losing them, and that’s what Liverpool have found."
Undoubtedly, anytime a new manager takes over, it will take time for them to get their ideas across to their squad, with Iraola's time at Bournemouth arguably the best example of this.
During his first year in charge of the Cherries, Bournemouth failed to win any of its opening nine Premier League fixtures. However, in the ensuing nine games after that, Iraola's side lost just once, picking up seven wins.
In Dunne's eyes, Liverpool's attack will need a few months to gel before it is firing on all cylinders.
He added: "Over the next couple of months, you’ll find their top players, their attacking players, start to hit form. If they prove they’re worth the money that was spent on them, that’s a frightening front four, five or six players Liverpool have to choose from. So I do think Liverpool will be strong, and giving Iraola a little bit of time will show that he is the right man for the job.
"He’s unbeaten in the Premier League since early January himself, so he’s shown a resilience and something he can bring to Liverpool. It’s too early to be doubting him and doubting the squad."