One of the best counter-attack within the Premier League, a revived Milos Kerkez… and Junior Kroupi arriving to play bass? How Andoni Iraola will convey Jurgen Klopp’s heavy steel soccer again to Liverpool

Though he received’t be there to see it, Mohamed Salah made it clear what he needed to get his membership again to their finest.

‘I would like Liverpool to return to being the heavy steel attacking staff that opponents concern,’ the Egyptian mentioned final month as he ready to depart Anfield following 257 targets and eight main trophies.

Briefly: he needed Jurgen Klopp soccer, not Arne Slot soccer. He bought his want on the second half. Slot’s Liverpool isn’t any extra after Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes modified his thoughts and bought rid. The query now could be whether or not the brand new man can ship the primary.

It seems to be as if that’s going to be Andoni Iraola, the previous Bournemouth boss who was additionally appointed on the south coast by Hughes, led the Cherries to sixth within the Premier League and was solely three factors away from pipping Liverpool to the ultimate Champions League spot.

Bournemouth continued to maneuver ahead underneath Iraola, regardless of promoting most of their finest gamers final summer time after which Antoine Semenyo mid-season. Liverpool, in the meantime, are going backwards – 24 factors fewer than Slot’s first season, 23 fewer league targets scored, extra conceded than in any season underneath Klopp and 3 times as many defeats as their title win in 2024-25.

So, is Iraola the person to get the heavy steel band again collectively? 

Mohamed Salah (centre) bought his want, seeing the tip of Slot’s fashion and what seems to be a return to the soccer of Jurgen Klopp (proper)

What he does have, that Slot struggled to search out, is an identification. What might come as a shock is that the uncooked numbers for Liverpool final season aren’t too far-off from the 2019-20 title-winning season underneath Klopp.

Principally the identical variety of photographs, precisely the identical assault pace up the pitch, related variety of direct assaults and sequences of 10 or extra passes that led to a shot. Counter-intuitively, even, Slot’s Liverpool final season produced considerably increased quick breaks than Klopp’s title winners, in addition to ones that led to photographs.

That they had much less possession than Klopp’s facet and much fewer sequences of 10 or extra passes. Liverpool even topped the listing final season for targets from turnovers excessive up the pitch.

But, nonetheless, you knew what Klopp’s facet needed to be. You by no means did with Slot’s. He tried a number of formations: a 4-2-3-1, a 4-4-2, a diamond, three on the again, wingers, no wingers, two No 10s, no No 10s. By the tip, neither Slot nor anybody else knew who Liverpool had been.

You knew what Iraola’s Bournemouth had been too. Like Klopp’s heavy steel rockers, the Cherries had been typified by a excessive, relentless press, squeezing opponents into corners, forcing them into errors and – crucially – being ruthless once they did.

Solely Manchester Metropolis and Chelsea had extra photographs after successful the ball again excessive up the pitch than Bournemouth this time period. The season earlier than, nobody did. No facet received possession within the closing third of the pitch a minimum of eight occasions in a Premier League match extra typically than Iraola’s facet. No staff recovered the ball anyplace on the pitch as a lot as Bournemouth.

The place Bournemouth received the ball excessive up the pitch this season – with over 50 of those turnovers resulting in photographs

Iraola’s Cherries had been typified by a excessive, relentless press, squeezing opponents into corners, forcing them into errors and – crucially – being ruthless once they did

Bournemouth had been unbelievable at successful the ball excessive – as typefied by Alex Scott’s good aim on the Emirates Stadium in April that secured a 2-1 win over Arsenal 

That’s the place they had been higher than Liverpool. Slot’s facet solely produced a pair fewer direct assaults than Bournemouth however scored as many targets from them. Klopp’s facet had been devastating from theirs.

So eager are Bournemouth to win the ball excessive up the pitch that lengthy earlier than new children on the block Paris Saint-Germain made it well-known, they used rugby-style kick-offs to punt it up discipline from the primary whistle. And even when they don’t win it cleanly, Bournemouth are completely satisfied to interrupt up the play. No facet made extra fouls within the opposition half final season than the Cherries – they’re typically the fouls least probably to attract a yellow card, too.

And once they do get it, Iraola needs his staff to get it ahead as shortly as potential. No staff mustered as many direct assaults (ones that begin simply contained in the staff’s personal half and primarily transfer in direction of the opposition’s aim and finish in a shot or a contact within the opposition’s field) than Bournemouth, nor scored extra targets from counter-attacks.

In keeping with Opta, Bournemouth attacked the quickest of all Premier League groups (1.95 metres per second) throughout Iraola’s reign and solely Everton averaged fewer passes per sequence.

Beneath Iraola, Bournemouth allowed their opponents among the many fewest passes earlier than trying to win it again, exhibiting how ruthless they’re out of possession. Liverpool followers have missed that.

In some ways, it’s good for Salah that he received’t be there as a result of there’s no method Iraola would let him off from the urgent and working and soiled work that Slot at occasions did. 

Iraola will even look to get extra out of his full backs than Slot, extra akin to the times of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson bombing ahead as one of the vital artistic double acts within the division. Slot struggled to utilise Milos Kerkez, the previous Bournemouth full again, and Jeremie Frimpong, however they’re each higher suited to thrive underneath Iraola.

Bournemouth’s full backs push excessive and act as attacking shops. Adrien Truffert, Kerkez’s substitute, was among the many most artistic defenders and highest crossers within the league final time period. Solely Lucas Digne offered extra assists than Truffert’s 5 amongst defenders. Kerkez and Frimpong offered simply two between them. 

Truffert had the second-most touches of any Bournemouth participant all season. He was all the time concerned. Even of their draw with title-chasing Manchester Metropolis final month, look how excessive up the sector Truffert (3) bought on the ball.

Can he unleash Kerkez once more?

The typical place of left again Adrien Truffert (No3) in Bournemouth’s draw with Manchester Metropolis final month reveals how superior Iraola needs his full backs to be, no matter opposition

Milos Kerkez flourished at Bournemouth underneath Iraola – to the purpose that Liverpool paid £40m to convey him to Anfield final summer time

Junior Kroupi was given freedom to create, flourish and set the tempo between the traces

There can be hope, too, that Iraola may also help Wirtz thrive in the way in which that Justin Kluivert and Junior Kroupi have shaped the artistic midfield hub for Bournemouth, now that he’s getting accustomed to life within the Premier League.

Kluivert and Kroupi needed to be part of the staff press however as soon as in possession got the liberty to create, flourish and set the tempo between the traces, just like the band’s bass participant, as their team-mates bombed on round them.

Ander Murillo, Iraola’s former team-mate and sporting director of AEK Larnaca, as soon as described his fashion of soccer as ‘rock and roll’.

Sounds about excellent.