🔴 Blood Red: All You Need To Know as Andoni Iraola appointed Liverpool head coach

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What a week it has been for Liverpool. On Saturday, Arne Slot was sacked after just under two years in charge following a review from the Reds hierarchy.

It was decided that Liverpool would change managers following a poor Premier League title defence that brought 20 defeats in all competitions.

Immediately, Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola was installed as the favourite. Formal talks began and on Thursday, the Basque arrived on Merseyside before his appointment was confirmed last night.

Now, I’m meant to be on annual leave this week, but due to the significance of the news, I couldn’t leave you all without the latest. But don’t forget to subscribe and share with your friends - including another bonus edition that was published on Tuesday.

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👨‍💼 Andoni Iraola has become the new Liverpool head coach on a two-year deal. The 43-year-old, who was appointed as Bournemouth boss by current Reds sporting director Richard Hughes, emerged as the preferred candidate ahead of Sebastian Hoeness and Pierre Sage of Lens.

🥅 Tommy Elphick, Shaun Cooper, Tom Webber and Pablo de la Torre are all expected to join his backroom staff. The quartet were among his backroom staff at Bournemouth (Ben Jacobs).

💌 Following his dismissal, Arne Slot showed his class with an open letter published in the Liverpool ECHO. The Dutchman expects Liverpool to continue kicking on after leaving the Reds among Europe’s elite.

🔥 This week, I spoke to the Bournemouth ECHO’s Alexander Smith who has followed the Cherries for two years, witnessing them under Iraola. It was particularly striking to hear that the 43-year-old could well bring a Jurgen Klopp-style of football back to Anfield.

😊 Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy says he is excited by the prospect of Andoni Iraola’s appointment.

He said:

“I’m quite excited because after watching Bournemouth play, there’s no reason to think he’s not going to try and play the same way - in terms of being courageous and on the front foot and trying to press teams with high energy and play attacking football.

“When a fanbase becomes disillusioned with a manager and his style of play - and then start turning on him - you’re delaying the inevitable. I do believe Liverpool are better placed now and that’s not all down to Slot.

“Bringing in Iraola was the best option because the fans go into a new campaign with hope and excitement, rather than fear. You do not want to start the season where the players are feeling the anxiety from the outset, and this was the best way for Liverpool to do it.”

📅 Initial reports surrounding Iraola’s contract length are that he will sign a two-year deal at Anfield. The Basque has previously only signed one-year terms with clubs before breaking that cycle with the Cherries, by signing a two-year deal. He explained last year that he does it to focus on the short-term and getting results.

🤩Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott has talked up his departing boss. The England international says Liverpool supporters should be excited.

He said:

“He is a great manager. You see what we have done as a club and how we have progressed over the three seasons he was with us.

“The way we press out of possession is very aggressive, similar to the early Klopp teams at Liverpool, that fierce aggressiveness and pressing with the wingers.

“Liverpool fans should definitely be so excited. It is a bigger club, but there is no reason why he can’t go in there and be a top manager and take them back to the level they were at.”

🔮 Good omen? In 2004, Arsenal won the Premier League, Liverpool sacked their manager, hired a Spaniard and won the Champions League in 2005. In 2026, the Gunners returned to the summit of English football, the Reds sacked their manager, set to appoint a Spaniard, and potentially win the Champions League next season…

🗣 “I’ve been the other side – I still remember the goal [Federico] Chiesa scored at the end of the first game of the season. We were there with 2-2 thinking that probably we could take something. He scored and the place erupted. It was crazy, no? I want now to feel this from the other side.”

🗣“At the beginning when you arrive at any club, I think you need to kind of prove a little bit yourself. You need to earn the right also to belong. I want to do this as quickly as possible so I can also celebrate with them and I can be part properly of those celebrations.”

🗣 “For me, football is about emotions. About passion. I’m quite cool-headed probably, during my life quite rational, I would say. But it’s true that when the game starts, when you have to celebrate a goal, something is inside, no? I think this inner energy, you need it as a player, you need it as a supporter, you need it as a coach. No better place than Anfield.”

🗣 “I think Liverpool gives me the chance to coach top players, and top players give you the chance to fight for titles. To win titles. Obviously when you arrive at a place, you cannot promise everything. You cannot promise. But it’s true that I understand where I’m coming and what is expected. I’m ready for the challenge.”

ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THE PROSPECT OF ANDONI IRAOLA TAKING OVER LIVERPOOL?

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✍ Ibrahima Konate confirmed that he will be leaving Liverpool this summer. According to various reports, the France international is set to be announced as a Real Madrid player.

In an interview before the World Cup, the central defender revealed the impact of losing Diogo Jota and his father in a short space of time. Konate spoke candidly in an emotional interview.

👉 Movement is expected around Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola. Liverpool, Arsenal and an unnamed club are said to be keen on the forward (Fabrizio Romano).

🏅 Liverpool have held off competition to sign academy talent Josh Abe to a new deal. The 15-year-old was courted by a host of English and European clubs but Abe has agreed a scholarship at Anfield when he turns 16 next month before signing a three-year professional deal on his 17th birthday.

📌 Liverpool are continuing to “push hard” to sign Kennet Eichhorn. The highly-rated 16-year-old is coveted across Europe and the Reds are said to be looking for his signature with the prospect of joining Bayer Leverkusen on loan - should he sign for Liverpool (Florian Plettenberg).

❌ Tottenham Hotspur have had a £70million bid for Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke rejected. Liverpool have been credited with interest in the Seagulls stopper, alongside Chelsea (Telegraph).

🖐 Alexis Mac Allister’s father has once again come out to speak out against reports of an exit for the Liverpool midfielder. The Argentine has been linked with a move to Real Madrid but his father has dismissed the suggestion that contact has been made (AS).

👍 Liverpool appreciate Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers, who has a host of suitors this summer. However, the Reds are prioritising other positions than an attacking midfielder as they seek to rebuild (The Athletic).

💸 Wingers are a priority with Yan Diomande and Bradley Barcola among the names on the list. The midfield is an area that needs attention with Liverpool willing to cash in on Curtis Jones and Alexis Mac Allister, who is another player that could be moved on (The Times).

👀 Liverpool have made contact with RB Leipzig as they step up their pursuit of Yan Diomande. The Reds are in the strongest position with the player over a deal but the Bundesliga side have repeatedly stressed that he is not for sale and it would take in excess of €130million (£112.4m) to change that (The Athletic).

⚔ Yan Diomande has not given his commitment to Liverpool or Paris Saint-Germain, despite reports. Both clubs want him, the Reds are doing everything they can to complete a deal before the World Cup - RB Leipzig remain relaxed as they’re convinced he will stay for another 12 months (Florian Plettenberg).

🤔 Liverpool have expressed an interest in Lille forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo. Como, Manchester United, Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich are said to be in the battle with the Ligue 1 side valuing the 21-year-old at €70million (£60m).

Liverpool are not a sacking club, this case of Arne Slot is rare. It does feel slightly weird seeing the head coach relieved of his duties almost exactly 12 months after being crowned a Premier League champion.

That is something that the Dutchman can call himself, however. Admittedly, due to the mitigating circumstances, it would have been good to see if he could turn it around at Anfield.

But on the other hand, it is simple to see why the decision was made. Laboured football, limping over the line to Champions League and abject performances. Jamie Carragher raised a good point about not falling into the trap that Man United did with Erik ten Hag and prolonging the inevitable or wasting a season like Liverpool did the last time they sacked a manager in 2015 when Brendan Rodgers was axed.

The new man is more or less in position, we now know that. Hate it or love it, Andoni Iraola will be in that Anfield hotseat in August.

What do Liverpool want? Casting the mind back to May 2024, the feeling was very much, ‘how does the next manager follow Jurgen Klopp?’ It happened too many times, especially in the cases of Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson that long-term managers leaving often brings a rocky period. In Arsenal’s case, it took two decades and the Red Devils are already 10 years into the post-Ferguson era but now only finding some positive signs under Michael Carrick.

No one expected Slot to be a success so soon. How does Iraola follow? Does he get the benefit of the doubt in his first season?

There aren’t too many reservations surrounding his appointment. Yes, the move from Bournemouth to a club like Liverpool could be one. Another being how does his methods cope in new ground for him with three games in a week?

They are all questions we won’t have the answers to until October, February or even June 2027. What is a mystery is the two-year contract reportedly handed to the 43-year-old.

How quickly can you implement a style? Surely the first season is a transition, a bedding-in period, then the second is one where it is all systems go. Say for instance that does happen, do we see Liverpool go into the 2027-28 season with a manager, who has won silverware, and facing interest from around Europe over his services? Now, that’s the ideal world.

It does slightly feel like it feeds into the uncertainty that surrounds this whole club with Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards both being linked with exits.

That’s off the pitch. Of course, the excitement will be fuelled with how successful Liverpool are in the market. Pace is needed, a new defender now too with Konate leaving, but with 12 months under their belts at Anfield, you can only assume this change in tact could be beneficial for Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak.

All signs point to the fact that Liverpool have appointed one of the best up-and-coming managers in Europe, at least.

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