Iraola set to move Liverpool on from the Slot era

Andoni Iraola signed a two-year deal with Liverpool in the summer and, as BBC Sport reports, he is already trying to steer the club forward from the Arne Slot era after last season’s disappointing run.

Just 12 months ago Liverpool looked set to defend the title: they won each of their first five Premier League games. But by the end of the campaign Iraola replaced Slot at Anfield, and BBC Sport stresses it’s still early to judge—despite noting that Liverpool are already six points worse off than they were at this stage last term.

“Six days a week” training

The central theme in Kirkby, according to BBC Sport, is intensity and routine. Iraola is described as a “six days a week” coach: he’s often the first to arrive, marking out sessions and pushing hard in training.

Forward Lewis Koumas backed that up, saying: “It’s really intense. There’s a lot of hard work and no sort of light days. Everyone’s putting in 100%.” The club’s staff also frame the approach as a direct translation of the press and positioning principles Iraola wants—how the number 10 presses, how the number 8 jumps to stop play, and how the centre-backs coordinate.

Schedule pressure

The other major challenge is the workload. BBC Sport says Liverpool will play at least 49 matches this season, with the number potentially climbing into the 60s depending on cup runs. Iraola’s training plan is adjusted in line with the kick-off time of the next game, with late afternoon and early evening sessions becoming more common.

This weekend’s trip to Bournemouth is also personal: Iraola is returning to the place he called home for three years, with the visit landing in a smaller away dressing room that Bournemouth renovated to meet Europa League requirements.

Overall, BBC Sport’s message is that Iraola is adapting to the Liverpool environment as much as the club is adapting to him—using a structured role, learning on the job with a crowded calendar, and leaning on key staff members while the squad tries to build consistency.