Andoni Iraola is unbeaten since taking charge of Liverpool but Jamie Carragher still reckons the former Bournemouth manager has been 'dealt a bad hand' with the current Reds' squad
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - AUGUST 23: Andoni Iraola, Manager of Liverpool, inspects the pitch before the Premier League 2026/27 match between Newcastle United and Liverpool FC at St James' Park on August 23, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
Jamie Carragher says the scale of Andoni Iraola's job at Liverpool is already clear(Image: Molly Darlington, Getty Images)
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Jamie Carragher has delivered a scathing assessment of Liverpool, saying Andoni Iraola has been 'dealt a bad hand' despite the Reds' boasting an ultra expensively-assembled squad.
Iraola was plucked from Bournemouth earlier this year to succeed Arne Slot after the Dutchman failed to build on a dream maiden year at the helm which culminated in a surprise Premier League title win. All eyes are on the former ahead of Iraola's first meeting with his former club since moving, with Liverpool unbeaten under his watch.
But results have not all been positive with underwhelming draws against Nottingham Forest and Fulham part of that run, plus another stalemate with Newcastle on the opening weekend.
Iraola's remit is to ensure Liverpool enjoy a far stronger season than last term. But Carragher believes Liverpool's squad, which has been put together to the tune of around £700million, is not up to par and risk being remembered as 'failed galacticos'.
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"Having built his reputation creating a hard-working, well-drilled team rich in potential, Iraola is responsible for infusing those same characteristics into the most expensively assembled squad in Liverpool history," Carragher told The Telegraph.
"His first six games demonstrate it is no quick fix. The Basque coach is the first Liverpool appointment to work with more than £700m of recent signings while being entitled to feel he has been dealt a bad hand.
"Everything Iraola has said and done so far screams that he is searching for the right blend in his starting XI while having to eradicate negative traits, with and without the ball. It was telling that the excellent performance of his youngsters against Tottenham Hotspur in midweek offered the clearest hint of Iraola’s vision than anything we have seen with all the high-priced stars on the pitch."
Liverpool have broken the £100m barrier on three separate occasions over the last 12 months, yet their squad has struggled to translate those blue-chip additions into quality performances and results on a consistent basis.
Andoni Iraola is more than happy with what Wirtz is offering Liverpool this season
Iraola has three £100m footballers at his disposal
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Carragher argues that the squad is all over the place, continuing: "Despite the club’s lavish outlay since last summer, Iraola has inherited a mish-mash of a squad. It demands re-organisation and rewiring to get anywhere near the levels of consistency which made Liverpool champions just 15 months ago.
"Like Slot last season, Iraola is being entrusted to make expensive pieces fit together. Worryingly, it may need a couple more transfer windows targeting the right profiles for his style before he does – an incredible reality given how much has been invested already."
Carragher goes on to claim that Liverpool becoming the first club in the world to field three £100m footballers was "wrong" before pointing out the club have traditionally found success in targeting younger, pre-elite players.
After being far from convinced that was the right approach at the time, Carragher is sticking to his guns and feels the Liverpool hierarchy have to accept culpability for their strategy which has seen the club go backward since winning the league, with Slot becoming an unfortunate scapegoat.
Arne Slot is set for his next job after being sacked by Liverpool
Carragher feels Arne Slot become a scapegoat prior to his sacking(Image: (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images))
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"My initial response after Slot’s sacking was that, in time, there would be a reassessment of his work and recognition of how many factors led to Liverpool’s underperformance," Carragher added.
"He did not deserve to be held solely responsible. That reappraisal will happen quicker than expected without a radical upturn.
"During last weekend’s goalless draw with Fulham, the first murmurings of the Kop’s discontent confirmed what I and many Liverpool supporters anticipated coming into this season.
"Slot proved a useful scapegoat for too many players. There will be no hiding place for them at Anfield if they do not run through a brick wall every week for Iraola."
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