Liverpool should not fear a Premier League opening day trip to Newcastle United and are all set for a better season under Andoni Iraola.
That’s according to former striker Tony Cascarino, who has claimed that he’s feeling good about the Reds’ chances of bouncing back under Iraola.
Asked to react to Liverpool’s Premier League fixtures being released and throwing up a difficult visit to St James’ Park on matchday one, Cascarino said that whatever happens in the North East, he is confident that Iraola will improve on what Arne Slot did last term.
Now the fixtures have been revealed, do you think Liverpool will win the Premier League in 26/27?
Iraola change key to Liverpool optimism – Cascarino
Had Slot stayed on as Liverpool head coach, supporters would have been extremely wary of how the new season might look. But Iraola’s appointment has given everyone a lift.
Cascarino has been extremely positive about the former Bournemouth manager, and told TalkSPORT that he believes the quality of the Liverpool squad and the style of the Spaniard’s football will mesh together well with excellent results.
“I’m not overly fussed [about starting away at Newcastle],” he said. “I said that I believe from very early on that we’ve got the right manager in now to have a different way of playing that will be far more effective.”
“We’ve got lots of great players and hopefully with a full pre-season, those Liverpool players will come back absolutely spot on this year and with some new exciting transfers as well. I’m optimistic about Liverpool now.
“There’s no guarantee of how you’re going to get off, but what I do think, we’ve signed a manager who has a style that I look at that squad and think it will work.
“He’s got players he’s worked with before,” Cascarino added. “Obviously with Kerkez, he’s got a player there that played so much better for Bournemouth than he did for Liverpool, and he knows the strengths of him.
“Look, I feel optimistic about Liverpool. There’s always a challenge because Arsenal are sitting at the top of the tree.”
It is hard to say exactly what Liverpool’s expectations should be heading into the new season, and much will depend on how the transfer window plays out. But, whatever happens, simply being better than last season is an absolute must. From there, why can’t the Reds challenge right at the top of the Premier League and in Europe as well?
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