Andoni Iraola's Early Impact on Liverpool's Pre-Season Performance

Four pre-season matches offer just a glimpse, but Andoni Iraola is already beginning to shape Liverpool’s style. The Spanish manager took over from Arne Slot, who had won the Premier League with the Reds just a season prior. Many fans feel Iraola’s approach aligns more closely with the energetic and intense football that became synonymous with Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp.

Pre-Season Results and Possession Stats

The Reds secured wins against Sunderland and Wrexham during pre-season but lost two-goal leads in matches versus Leeds and Monaco. Across these four games, Liverpool averaged 60.6% possession, a notable rise of 12.9% compared to Bournemouth’s league average last season under Iraola. With opponents often defending deep, maintaining high possession presents a fresh challenge for Iraola, who tries to blend this control with his trademark aggressive style.

Building Play and Attacking Approach

Much of Iraola’s tactics in possession mirror those from his previous teams. Liverpool sometimes build from the back using their goalkeeper, four defenders, and one or two central midfielders positioned deep. Preferred midfielders Dominik Szoboszlai and Trey Nyoni drop to receive passes and redistribute wide, inviting pressure before triggering quick forward movements. This method aims to lure opponents into pressing, allowing Liverpool to launch fast attacks by breaking lines.

If pressed immediately, the team is prepared to bypass short build-up and launch long balls from goalkeepers like Alisson or Giorgi Mamardashvili. Even if the initial aerial duel is lost, Liverpool positions itself to capture second balls and exploit gaps centrally against unsettled defenses.

Influence of Marcelo Bielsa

Iraola’s attacking ideas are heavily influenced by Marcelo Bielsa, his former coach at Athletic Club. In a 2023 interview, Iraola credited Bielsa for many exercises and philosophies, especially offensively. Like Bielsa’s squads, Liverpool under Iraola plays dynamically, with players frequently swapping positions rather than holding fixed zones.

Bielsa’s use of wide pairings or trios to dismantle defenses is echoed in Liverpool’s current patterns. The left flank, in particular, shows full-backs advancing deep alongside wingers such as Rio Ngumoha and Cody Gakpo. Florian Wirtz, usually operating as number 10, often drifts wide to form flexible triangles that confuse defenders and create dangerous crossing opportunities.

• Wide triangle example: Ngumoha faces four Leeds defenders alone.
• Ngumoha passes to left-back Milos Kerkez, while Wirtz moves to support on the flank.
• Kerkez returns the ball to Ngumoha and makes an overlapping run, dragging defenders and creating space for Wirtz to move centrally.

Defensive Vulnerabilities and Tactical Balance

This attacking intensity leaves Liverpool top-heavy. Both full-backs, two midfielders, and the front three often push forward, leaving only two center-backs and one holding midfielder behind. This formation can expose Liverpool to swift counter-attacks. Last season, Slot’s Liverpool also struggled against quick breaks.

Iraola has spoken about needing better control while keeping his team's attacking chaos, possibly by keeping more players behind the ball as the season progresses. Still, his past teams usually send six or seven players forward, trusting in high pressing to prevent counters early.

Intense counter-pressing is key to stopping opponents from exploiting space, especially when attacks focus down the flanks with multiple players close by applying pressure. Iraola admitted after the Monaco loss that the team couldn’t maintain the desired level of intensity, citing fitness and pressing issues.

Pressing and Defensive Structure

Iraola’s well-known high press is evident in Liverpool’s defensive setup. Dominik Szoboszlai, deployed mainly as the second central midfielder, plays a pivotal role. Liverpool often press in a 4-4-2 diamond shape, encouraging opponents to play short before intensifying pressure, channeling play toward the center.

One principle from Iraola’s Bournemouth tenure is keeping a spare defender against opposing attacks. If opponents push three forwards high, Liverpool keeps four defenders back, sacrificing a forward player but demanding intensity and smart covering. Szoboszlai’s timing in stepping forward to press is vital; when he advances, teammates must fill his space quickly to avoid gaps.

"He is very good," said Szoboszlai of Iraola. "The intensity we need is here now, what we have been missing is back."

• Press example against Leeds: Alexander Isak presses the left centre-back.
• Florian Wirtz covers one midfielder while preparing to press another.
• Szoboszlai marks the other central midfielder but adjusts based on Wirtz’s movement to maintain pressure.

Outlook for the Season Ahead

Though four games is a limited window, Iraola’s imprint on Liverpool is visible, carrying over many tactical instructions from his Bournemouth days. Balancing the speed and disorder his teams are known for with a squad expected to dominate possession and lacking depth will be a defining challenge.