Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy has endorsed Andoni Iraola as the man to lead the club back to their golden era.
Iraola was officially appointed as the Reds’ new permanent manager on Thursday on a two-year deal, succeeding Arne Slot in the role.
While Slot won the Premier League title in his first season, his second was far from ideal as they ended the season in fifth place and also without a silverware.
Meanwhile, their brand of football also came under the spotlight, with Mohamed Salah taking to social media to criticize the club’s style of play.
“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,” Murphy said.
“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.”
Despite the promise, the former England international had reservations about Iraola, especially given his inexperience in managing a top side.
Several top managers in the Premier League have previously struggled to cope when handed the roles at bigger clubs, with the likes of Graham Potter and Thomas Frank failing after taking the big step forward.
“I do have a couple of reservations because he’s never managed a club of this size before and he will be a little bit surprised at how intrusive it will be on his life, when you manage Liverpool”, Murphy added.
“Even as a player, that changes overnight because it’s one of the biggest clubs in the world and everything you do will be scrutinised and talked about, locally and globally.
“The only other reservation is whether he will be able to play high-intensity football every few days because that will require a certain level of fitness – which we saw with Jurgen Klopp’s teams with the flying full-backs, the midfield dynamism and the work-rate of the attackers”, he concluded.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
