Liverpool will face Manchester City on Sunday as the Premier League resumes following the international break
Andoni Iraola looks on
Andoni Iraola has been warned(Image: Getty Images)
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Liverpool's Premier League campaign will resume on Sunday with a huge game against Manchester City at Anfield. The three-week international break saw the news that the Cityzens were found guilty of financial breaches.
The rhetoric has been fierce as columnists, pundits and fans have thrashed out just what they think City's punishment should be. However, former Red Jamie Carragher believes that should the Blues face stern ramifications from the governing body, it could indirectly heap pressure on Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola.
Elsewhere in today's news, former Liverpool boss Arne Slot has finally landed a new job four months after he was relieved of his position at Anfield.
Iraola to 'face pressure'
Carragher believes that pressure will be piled onto Andoni Iraola following the City verdict. The Etihad outfit have been found guilty of breaking the Premier League's financial rules between 2009 and 2018 - and it has been speculated they could even be relegated as punishment.
City maintain their innocence, have appealed the decision and are confident of receiving a full exoneration. Carragher is convinced that Enzo Maresca's side will be relegated, and that the consequences will mean the likes of Iraola, Michael Carrick at Manchester United and Xabi Alonso at Chelsea will face pressure to succeed without City in the top flight.
"City have been a valid excuse for narrowly losing titles and trophies. For others, they have been a convenient one," he wrote in his column for The Telegraph.
"For Liverpool, Chelsea and United, the timescale to become title challengers changes the moment City hear the outcome of their disciplinary hearing. The power shift will be instant and dramatic.
Jamie Carragher speaking
Jamie Carragher has given his take on how Manchester City should be punished(Image: YouTube/The Overlap)
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"We are not in a world in which Iraola can talk about long-term projects. Once the two immediate obstacles to another Liverpool title in the near future are reduced to one, there will be an expectation for his side to make haste."
Liverpool are one of the clubs who have been dramatically impacted by the verdict, having finished second behind the Blues on three occasions in recent years. Carragher urged the Anfield side to use that "grievance as a source of motivation".
Arne Slot's new job
Slot has landed his first job since being sacked by the Reds. The Dutchman was given the boot at the end of last season following a deeply disappointing title defence.
The Premier League winner was subsequently linked with the Netherlands national team role before insisting his immediate future lies in club football. In the meantime, Slot has been appointed to UEFA's Technical Observer Group
UEFA says the group will monitor the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League with "stats and video assistance, enabling them to deliver detailed reports on the latest developments in coaching, which are shared among the footballing community to give a dynamic account of the state of the game."
Arne Slot is set for his next job after being sacked by Liverpool
Arne Slot is set for his next job after being sacked by Liverpool(Image: (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images))
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On Slot's addition to the group, European football's governing body added: "Slot made his name at Feyenoord, reaching the UEFA Conference League final in 2022 and winning an Eredivisie title and Dutch Cup in the following two campaigns.
"He joined Liverpool in 2024 and immediately guided the club to their second Premier League trophy in five years before departing Anfield this summer."
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