I genuinely believe Andoni Iraola is the right manager to take Liverpool forward, but supporters need to understand the size of the job he has inherited.
His start at Anfield has certainly been bumpy. Two consecutive defeats against Arsenal and Fenerbahçe have brought criticism, questions about his team selections and renewed frustration among supporters.
However, I don’t believe we should be judging Iraola on a handful of difficult results when the bigger picture tells us that Liverpool have a much more complicated rebuilding job ahead.
For me, the problems go back to the summer of 2025.
Liverpool spent heavily, made significant changes to the squad and allowed important players to leave. Yet the recruitment did not leave the club with the balanced team it needed.
The consequences are now being felt, and I believe Liverpool are potentially two or three years behind where they should be.
That is not all Iraola’s responsibility. In fact, he is the man who has been brought in to put things right.
Arne Slot was never quite the right fit for Liverpool
I know Slot delivered a Premier League title, and nobody should dismiss that achievement.
But I always felt there was something missing.
For me, he wasn’t quite a Liverpool-type manager. It wasn’t simply about results or tactics, but also his style of football and the way he handled himself in press conferences when things weren’t going his way.
I became increasingly uncomfortable with some of his public comments. At times, I felt he was putting the club down and throwing players under the bus rather than protecting the group and taking responsibility himself.
That is not how I want to see a Liverpool manager behave.
There were also growing concerns about the football. The intensity, aggression and attacking identity that supporters associate with Liverpool seemed to disappear for long periods.
The final months of his time in charge only increased those doubts.
I appreciate what Slot achieved, but I also believe the club eventually recognised that a change was necessary.
Iraola inherited a much bigger problem than some people realise
One of the things that frustrates me about the criticism of Iraola is that people seem to expect him to turn everything around immediately.
That was never realistic.
He inherited a squad that needed serious attention. There are problems in midfield, questions over the full-back positions and areas of the attack that still need strengthening.
The summer recruitment did not address everything, and the departures have left gaps that cannot simply be filled by changing the manager.
Even after another significant summer of spending in 2026, questions remain about the balance of the squad. Iraola has had to work with the players available rather than build an entirely new team around his preferred style.
That is why I expected a difficult start.
You cannot change the identity of a team overnight, particularly when the squad has been assembled for a different style of football.
The club must back Iraola – and give him time
My understanding is that there is confidence in Iraola within the club, and I believe that is important.
Liverpool cannot keep changing direction every time results become difficult. If the hierarchy appointed him because they believe he is the right man to lead the next stage of the project, they have to demonstrate that belief.
That means backing him in the transfer market, allowing him to make difficult decisions and giving him the time to develop the team.
It also means being prepared to make changes to the squad.
I have already spoken about the need for a midfield revamp. Liverpool need more physicality, defensive protection, creativity and players who can move the ball forward with purpose.
Trey Nyoni is an exciting young player and could become a major part of Liverpool’s future, but we cannot put the entire responsibility on a youngster. He needs experienced quality around him.
The same applies to the rest of the team. Iraola needs players who suit his approach, not simply a squad of expensive names that do not necessarily fit together.
Two defeats do not change my belief in Iraola
I understand the frustration after losing to Arsenal and Fenerbahçe.
The defensive mistakes have been poor, the midfield has struggled for balance and some of the manager’s decisions deserve questioning.
I am not suggesting Iraola should be immune from criticism.
But there is a difference between questioning individual performances and deciding that the entire project is failing.
I want to see improvements, and I want to see Liverpool become more consistent. The manager has to get more out of the players currently available while the club works on strengthening the squad.
However, I don’t want another cycle of panic, short-term thinking and changing managers before they have had a proper opportunity to succeed.
Liverpool need stability and a clear direction.
My verdict: Iraola is the man, but Liverpool must build around him
I believe Andoni Iraola can be successful at Liverpool.
He has a clear footballing identity, demands intensity from his players and wants his teams to play attacking football. Those are qualities I want to see at Anfield.
But he needs the right players to make it work.
The damage caused by the recruitment and departures of 2025 will not be corrected in one transfer window. Liverpool have a significant amount of work to do, and the club must accept that this is a longer-term rebuild.
I don’t expect Iraola to challenge for every trophy immediately. I want to see progress, a stronger identity, Champions League qualification and genuine competition in the cups while the squad is improved.
Most importantly, I want the hierarchy to stand behind the manager rather than lose faith at the first sign of trouble.
Arne Slot’s chapter is over. Andoni Iraola deserves the opportunity to write the next one.
I genuinely believe he is the man to succeed at Liverpool, but patience will be essential.
We cannot expect a manager to repair two or three years of recruitment problems in a matter of months.
Give Iraola the time, give him the players he needs and let him build the Liverpool team we all want to see.
Jamie – (The Kopite View)
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