Andoni Iraola will have the mammoth task of taking Liverpool back to their usual lofty heights in the 2026/27 season.
He takes over with a disgruntled fanbase desperate to see more aggressive football and a squad that needs a lot of work.
One serious area of concern for Liverpool, especially with Andy Robertson leaving for free, is full-back. But those inside Anfield think the Spaniard is going to unlock Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez next season.
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Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong expected to improve under Andoni Iraola
Liverpool could sign a right-back this summer after Frimpong’s struggles in 2025/26.
Dominik Szoboszlai ended up filling in for the Dutchman on a number of occasions last term, with it clear he’s not well suited to playing in a back-four.
However, there is much optimism that Iraola is the man to turn that around, as Romain Molina has now explained.
He said: “But from what I’ve heard internally, the objective is also to lower some of these egos, reshape the dressing-room hierarchy, and create something clearer and better defined with the coach, figuring out how players like Szoboszlai fit in, for example.
“At the same time, what they wanted was depth and players who can attack from wide areas, because in the end, especially after Luis Díaz’s departure, that gap wasn’t really replaced. That’s why this became a priority.
“And the hope is that with Iraola, the full-backs they brought in, Kerkez and Frimpong, will finally show their full potential. We know Frimpong has sometimes even played as a winger because of the shortage of options and injuries Liverpool had before.
“But now they’re moving toward something different and trying to rejuvenate the squad. At the same time, they want to part ways with certain players and, above all, compensate for injuries.”
Concerns over Alexander Isak emerge
Molina also shared the internal concerns around Alexander Isak at Liverpool.
The Swede missed much of last season due to injury and fitness problems, with some ‘small internal restructuring planned’ as a result.
The journalist continued: “We know that Ekitike, unfortunately, suffered a serious injury. And with Isak, I’m told his physical condition raises some concerns internally. That’s why there’s also a small internal restructuring planned.
“I know they discussed this in their internal audit, regarding the performance of the medical departments. Because if you add Konaté’s issues, some major injuries, and especially the Isak situation, there were real questions internally about whether his return was managed properly and how the physical preparation was handled.”
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