Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott reacts to Andoni Iraola deciding to join Liverpool

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Andoni Iraola has received a glowing assessment from former player Alex Scott after being confirmed as Liverpool’s new head coach.

Iraola spoke for the first time since joining the Reds on Thursday, impressing supporters with his calmness, enthusiasm and apparent understanding of the club.

For Scott, who played under the Basque for three years at Bournemouth, this was not a surprise, with the 22-year-old now telling Liverpool fans exactly why they should be so happy with their new boss.

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Iraola is very similar to early Klopp – Scott

Perhaps the biggest reason supporters are happy to see Iraola arrive at Liverpool is because of his preferred style of play.

The 43-year-old likes his teams to be front-footed and aggressive, something the Reds have been missing since Jurgen Klopp left in 2024.

According to Scott, Iraola will definitely bring that back, with the former Bristol City man claiming that Liverpool fans could now see the early versions of Klopp teams from the mid-2010s.

READ MORE: Jamie Carragher sends message to Andoni Iraola after Liverpool move confirmed

“He is obviously a great manager; you see what we have done as a club at Bournemouth and how we have progressed over the three seasons he was with us,” Scott said via The Athletic.

“I think the way we press out of possession is very aggressive, maybe similar to the early Klopp teams Liverpool had, that fierce aggressiveness and pressing with the wingers. I would say he is similar to that. Liverpool fans should definitely be so excited.”

Scott also gave an early prediction, claiming that Iraola will take Liverpool ‘back to the level they were at’ prior to a difficult season.

“He has done it with us and, obviously, Liverpool is a bigger club and a massive club in the Premier League, but I believe 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,” he said.

After watching a year of such turgid, slow, frustrating football, Iraola sounds like he has the perfect tonic for supporters to fall back in love with their club.