A big part of the reason Liverpool supporters grew so disillusioned with Arne Slot’s managerial reign was because of the sluggish style of football the Reds ultimately ended up playing under his watch.
Though the Dutchman regularly insisted that his philosophy was not so different to that of former manager Jurgen Klopp, fans felt differently, becoming bored and frustrated while watching their team.
With Andoni Iraola set to be appointed as Slot‘s successor this week, supporters have been hopeful that they are about to see a high-tempo, attacking Liverpool team once again.
Rate Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool appointment! Would any other manager have been a better pick?
While it remains to be seen how that will play out in practice, an interview Iraola gave to Sky Sports while still manager of Rayo Vallecano in May 2023 sounded like a manifesto in how not to play ‘Slot-ball,’ which will have Liverpool fans licking their lips.
Iraola does not care for control during matches
Initially, Slot’s tweaks to Klopp’s more chaotic style of play had been welcomed by Liverpool fans. Their team was still ruthless when it needed to be, but kept opponents – no matter how good – at arm’s lengths throughout matches.
Although that was fine when Liverpool were winning, when they started to lose it made them look slow, ponderous and out of ideas. Slot rarely changed his approach no matter the opponent or circumstance.
Iraola may not change either, but as he explained three years ago, he does not like to see his team play ‘safety passes,’ does not want to see regular passes back to the goalkeeper and is happy to let go of some control within games.
READ MORE: Virgil van Dijk confirms if he played a part in Liverpool deciding to sack Arne Slot
“It is true that we like, and we perform better, in high-tempo games,” he said. “We need to run a lot. We don’t need so much control, not in every single play, but I think we have the legs, we have the willingness, to go up and down.”
More focus on playing high-risk football
Put to him that his team also play ‘beautiful football,’ Iraola claimed that he prefers to put emphasis on taking risks with the ball and winning it high up the pitch. Again, it sounds like something that would give Slot and his coaching staff a migraine.
“It [playing beautifully] is not something we are trying to find because I think are much better without the ball,” said the Basque. “We are recovering and regaining possession very high and that is why we have so much time on the ball, but it is not something we like.
“I think we have to take risks when we regain. I don’t like this ‘security pass’, as they say, to play with the ‘keeper, to start building from the back. You have to do it sometimes, but it is not what identifies us. We are dangerous in fast attacks, when we recover possession as high as we can.”
Be honest, are you upset it’s Iraola and not Xabi Alonso? 👀
Sounds like Liverpool were always leaning towards the Bournemouth boss…
“I think we can find more goals that way than building from the back,” Iraola continued. “Sometimes we score starting from the ‘keeper, with a lot of passes, but the amount you score like this is a lot lower.
“We try to press high, to be aggressive without the ball, but with a different kind of structure.”
It is true that playing this way with Rayo and Bournemouth is very different to taking the same approach with Liverpool, who will generally have more of the ball during matches. How Iraola adapts to that will be fascinating to watch.
But Klopp proved that it is possible to play a style of football with a big focus on off the ball work with the Reds, and Slot has since solidified the feeling that Liverpool fans will not stand for a slow and methodical style of play.
On paper, Iraola should suit that philosophy down to the ground. As every supporter knows, though, football is not played on paper. Liverpool fans will certainly see something different next season, and that will be a welcome change. Whether it is successful or not, we shall soon find out.
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
