As Andoni Iraola settles into life as Liverpool head coach, early signs from pre-season suggest the Reds are set for a more possession-heavy but no less intense brand of football than under predecessor Arne Slot.
The Spaniard, who replaced Slot a year after the Dutchman guided Liverpool to the Premier League title, arrives with a reputation for high-octane, chaotic football forged during his time at Rayo Vallecano and Bournemouth. Many supporters believe his approach echoes the spirit of Jurgen Klopp's celebrated 'heavy metal' era at Anfield.
Results so far have been mixed. Liverpool defeated Sunderland and Wrexham in pre-season friendlies but surrendered two-goal advantages in losses to Leeds and Monaco. Still, the underlying numbers point to a clear shift in identity. Liverpool have averaged 60.6% possession across their pre-season fixtures, a jump of nearly 13 percentage points compared to Bournemouth's average under Iraola last season — a reflection of the fact that opponents are more inclined to sit deep against a club of Liverpool's stature.
Tactically, Iraola has largely stuck to the principles that defined his previous sides. Liverpool have often built play from the back with their goalkeeper, back four and one or two central midfielders, using players like Dominik Szoboszlai and Trey Nyoni to drop deep and draw opponents forward before releasing the ball into wide areas. The idea is to invite pressure before playing quickly through the space that opens up — effectively manufacturing counter-attacking opportunities even while holding the ball for long periods. When opposition sides press immediately, Liverpool have shown a willingness to bypass the short build-up entirely, going long from goalkeepers Alisson or Giorgi Mamardashvili to contest second balls in dangerous central areas.
Much of this approach traces back to the influence of Marcelo Bielsa, who coached Iraola at Athletic Club between 2011 and 2013. Speaking to Sky Sports in 2023, Iraola acknowledged the debt: "I use a lot of exercises from Marcelo that I learned from him, especially with the ball. Offensively, his teams are very dynamic, willing to make all the runs to the space, he is ready to accept this kind of disorder offensively."
That Bielsa-inspired fluidity is visible in how Liverpool's front players interchange positions rather than sticking to rigid zones, particularly down the left flank, where full-backs have pushed forward alongside Rio Ngumoha or Cody Gakpo. Florian Wirtz, deployed mainly as a number 10, often drifts into that channel to form rotating triangles designed to confuse defenders and generate crosses from advanced areas.
The attacking ambition comes with defensive risk. With both full-backs frequently joining attacks alongside two midfielders and the front three, Liverpool can be left with just two centre-backs and a lone holding midfielder shielding against transitions — a vulnerability that also affected Slot's title-winning side last season. Iraola himself flagged the issue after the defeat by Monaco, admitting: "We can't sustain the level we want, we have work to do," referencing second-half lapses caused by fitness levels, spacing issues and an unpolished press.
Defensively, Liverpool have shown Iraola's trademark high press, often organised in a 4-4-2 diamond that funnels opponents centrally before pouncing. Szoboszlai has been used as a second central midfielder, a role vital to the pressing structure, with his positioning dictating when team-mates step up or hold their line. The Hungary captain has embraced the change, saying: "The intensity we need is here now, what we have been missing is back."
With the season approaching, Iraola faces the task of balancing Liverpool's attacking adventurism with defensive solidity — a challenge his managerial history suggests he may prefer to solve through relentless pressing rather than caution.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.