Andoni Iraola is 10 Premier League games into his Liverpool career at Anfield, with the Spaniard ranking favorably against a number of his predecessorts - including Jurgen Klopp
Andoni Iraola has enjoyed a better start to life as Liverpool manager than the great Jurgen Klopp
Andoni Iraola has enjoyed a better start to life as Liverpool manager than the great Jurgen Klopp(Image: Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola has overseen a better start to life as Liverpool manager in the Premier League than Jurgen Klopp, but Arne Slot still holds the record for the best start.
Entering the international break, Liverpool sit fourth in the Premier League with 21 points through 10 games. Iraola ’s team have been competitive, tallying five wins in their first 10 league games along with three draws and two defeats after the win over Crystal Palace last week.
The Reds opened the campaign with draws at Newcastle United and at home to Nottingham Forest and Fulham in three of their first four games, but the wins then rolled in. Liverpool edged Iraola’s former club Bournemouth, and secured a dominant win over high-flying Brighton at Anfield.
However, the Spaniard’s tenure has so far been derailed by home losses to both Manchester City and Arsenal. The City loss was a resounding 3-0 defeat in which Ryan Gravenberch was sent off, while the 1-0 loss to Arsenal was the first time in over 20 years that Liverpool failed to register a single shot on goal at Anfield.
Those two defeats surpass the number of losses suffered by Iraola’s predecessor, Slot, through his first 10 games. The Dutchman tallied eight wins in his first 10 Premier League matches, defeating the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea while drawing at Arsenal.
Slot’s sole loss came at home to Nottingham Forest as the Dutchman put together a record start. He ended up being the first manager in club history to win 11 of his first 12 matches in charge, and Liverpool went on to storm the league en route to the Premier League title.
Arne Slot collected 25 points across his first 10 Premier League games as Liverpool manager
Arne Slot collected 25 points across his first 10 Premier League games as Liverpool manager(Image: Getty Images)
Slot inherited an incredibly talented squad, and the early success paved the path to the 2024–25 Premier League title in his debut season.
Without needing to alter the team’s style or main cast of characters on the pitch, Slot had a dream start to his tenure, with Mo Salah starring.
However, while Slot enjoyed a record start, Iraola would certainly prefer to replicate Klopp 's success. The German had a far slower start to life at Anfield than his successor, winning four of his first 10 games with three wins and three losses to tally 15 points.
It should be noted that Klopp inherited a much more challenging team to coach, as he took the reins 12 games into the 2015-16 Premier League season after Brendan Rodgers was dismissed.
Rodgers himself had a slow start in his first 10 Premier League games as Liverpool manager, recording two wins, four draws, and four losses as the Reds tallied 10 points to start the 2012–13 season. That is the worst sum of managers over the last two decades.
Before Rodgers, Roy Hodgson put up three wins and three draws in his first 10 Premier League games to sit on 12 points.
Meanwhile, Rafa Benitez began his first season in the Anfield dugout by tallying five wins and two draws, totaling 17 points. The Reds would miss out on Champions League football by finishing fifth, but the iconic comeback against AC Milan ensured Benitez and co. became European champions.