Liverpool could use Sunday's Premier League clash with Bournemouth to scout two stars who will be able to fix some problem positions for the team moving forward
Andoni Iraola manager of Liverpool applauds the fans after the Premier League 2026/27 match between Liverpool FC and Fulham
Andoni Iraola could fix two positions in his team with Bournemouth players(Image: (Photo by Gaspafotos/MB Media/Getty Images))
Liverpool is back in Premier League action for one last time before the new and extended international break, with a clash set up against Bournemouth.
It's a meeting that has plenty of story behind it, with Andoni Iraola set to face off against his old team for the first time since leaving the club in the summer at the end of his contract. After a difficult start with the Cherries, the Spaniard managed to improve upon their finishes in each season, culminating in qualification for the Europa League, a crowning achievement in the club's history so far.
At Liverpool, Iraola is facing much of the same early concerns. The Reds haven't been at their free-flowing best in attack, while the midfield can look disjointed, and the backline is creaky at best, even though the side remains unbeaten across all competitions.
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While the manager's principles are looking to stick to a group of players who are still trying to find their best roles, there is some hope that some consistency in performances and results can follow as time moves on.
Bournemouth could be the perfect test of that, with Iraola's last project that succeeded meeting the team he wants to mould into a similar style.
While the match will truly see where Liverpool is at this season, it could also hand the recruitment team another in-depth scouting opportunity to help improve some key areas.
Most notably, the Reds could get an up-close look at two players who have been touted as potential transfer targets: Alex Scott and Rayan.
Alex Scott of AFC Bournemouth celebrates after scoring their side's second goal during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Bournemouth
Alex Scott and Rayan have been linked with a move to Liverpool(Image: (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images))
Both Scott and Rayan have been linked with a possible reunion with Iraola, with moves that would help solve concerns that the team has in midfield and on the right wing.
The former featured 89 times for the manager, while the latter only played 15 times under him, but both know him well and could make the switch.
However, having the opportunity to see how they compete against players at the level that Liverpool has will be a good test to see how they may fit in the future. There are examples of stars leaving lasting impressions against the Reds before eventually signing, with the likes of Alexander Isak and Darwin Nunez doing so.
The areas that both players operate in will be considerations over the next few transfer windows as well. Liverpool failed to land a right-winger in the summer, missing out on the likes of Yan Diomande, Yankuba Minteh, and Ismaila Sarr, so a return to the market for someone like Rayan would make sense, following an impressive start to life in the Premier League.
As for the midfield, there have been questions about the balance of the team there, with Scott offering the ability to play in a deeper or more advanced role if required. Considering the amount of time he has played under Iraola too, he would comfortably fit into the tactical requirements to play for Liverpool.
While the Reds will be hoping to keep the pair quiet and walk away from the south coast with a win, the match will also be a good test for the two possible transfer targets and how they fare.