Six weeks or so before the new season begins, and Liverpool supporters are starting to get twitchy.
It is a familiar feeling for fans, who have become used to seeing their club fail to address glaring squad issues in the transfer market, but this summer, after such a poor campaign, real worry is beginning to creep in.
So far, only Victor Munoz has been added to a team which finished 25 points off the pace last term, and although Jeremy Jacquet has also finally arrived, there is so much more which Liverpool need to do.
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Things are frustratingly quiet, though, and the terrifying feeling that the Reds may actually do no further business is spreading like wildfire.
While there should be serious concerns about squad depth, though, Liverpool fans do not need to panic. Andoni Iraola has shown that he can get so much more out of the players at his disposal, and though supporters want more quality added, the Basque alone is reason to be optimistic.
Iraola will utilise Liverpool’s academy much more
One of the biggest ways Arne Slot annoyed Liverpool fans was with his perceived lack of interest in the young players coming through the academy.
Rio Ngumoha has blossomed into a first-team player, while Trey Nyoni was also given minutes here and there, but Slot was incredibly reluctant to use other young talents.
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There are plenty coming through, though, from Josh Abe and Will Wright up the top end of the pitch, to James McConnell in the middle and Mor Talla Ndiaye and Ifeanyi Ndukwe at the back. Iraola spoke about Liverpool’s young players during his first interview as head coach, and he even reported back to training early this week to run the rule over them.
The 44-year-old is clearly planning to give more opportunities to the likes of Ngumoha and Nyoni as well, and though fans would prefer to see big-name arrivals, there is a chance that these youngsters could be every bit as good as new players. Iraola will give them the platform to show that.
Liverpool players will improve under Iraola
Though part of the worry for Liverpool fans is simply in the numbers game – they feel they just do not have enough players to compete on all fronts – the truth is that if their starting players are on their game, they are a match for any team in world football.
That was not the case last season, and though the players themselves should take the blame for that, part of it has to be apportioned to Slot.
The Dutchman initially got more out of players like Ryan Gravenberch and Luis Diaz, but far too many regressed under his watch last year.
The arrival of any new head coach should give the squad a bit of a reset, but Iraola is a manager who is known to squeeze every last bit out of every player he has.
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He made the Bournemouth players look like world-beaters at times during his three years in charge, and if the Liverpool squad buy into his ideas, Iraola will surely have the same effect at Anfield.
While this does not help the Reds in terms of depth, it should mean that their floor and ceiling are both raised next season. Why bring in a new player when you already have one who can do the job better?
As panic and annoyance begin to cloud what is turning out to be another frustrating transfer window, fans should remember that in hiring Iraola, Liverpool have already done the best bit of business possible this summer.
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