Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has pushed back against suggestions his side should be discounted from the Premier League title conversation this season, pointing to the depth of talent already at Anfield and the prospect of further reinforcements before the transfer window closes.
Liverpool entered last season as strong favourites to defend their crown, only for a difficult campaign under Arne Slot to end in a fifth-place finish and the manager's subsequent departure. That downturn, combined with an ongoing search for two wide attacking options this summer, has left some observers sceptical about what Iraola can achieve in his first season in charge on Merseyside.
Despite declining to set explicit targets, the Spanish coach made clear he sees plenty to be optimistic about. Liverpool have been chasing several wingers, including Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye of Paris Saint-Germain as well as Brighton's Yankuba Minteh, though a £60m bid for Minteh was turned down by the Seagulls.
"Yes, it would be a mistake to underestimate his team," Iraola said, addressing the doubts directly. "I can feel that a little bit because of the questions I'm asked. We have to value the good players we have in this building. Sometimes the players are here for three, four, five seasons and we are not aware how good some of our players are. I know this is the situation."
He added that the transfer market remains open and that his fresh perspective as an incoming manager has given him a clearer appreciation of the squad's quality. "The market is not closed, we still have time to add more players, and probably I have the advantage that I am coming in new and I value a lot of the players I have here that are new to me. I can tell you that I am very confident in terms of the quality of the players we have," he said.
Iraola also addressed the impact of long-term injuries on perceptions of his squad, suggesting that some of the negativity stems from Liverpool being without key players recovering from major surgery. "We have some very good players who had big surgeries and if we had those players available then it probably puts your squad in a much better place. We have to go through this period until they are fully fit. We knew the impact it would have from the beginning and I hope we can deal with this period," he explained.
Among those under scrutiny is striker Alexander Isak, who is set for an emotionally charged return to Newcastle on Sunday, his first visit since a contentious exit from the club last summer. Iraola described the fixture as pivotal for the Swedish forward. "It is a massive season for Alexander," he said. "He knows at the end it is about two things: the first is availability, and without availability we cannot have the second thing which is the performance level. I have no doubts about his level."
The head coach praised Isak's rare blend of attributes, noting his ability both to link play and exploit space in behind defences. "I think he's quite a unique No 9 in terms of he can come to receive and be technically very clean, and he can also be very good attacking the space," Iraola said, adding that Isak has been receptive to tactical demands during pre-season training, particularly regarding Liverpool's pressing structure.
Elsewhere in the club's business, midfielder Curtis Jones has completed a move to Inter Milan in a deal worth €30m plus €5m in potential add-ons, along with a 10% sell-on clause for Liverpool.
With the transfer deadline approaching and Iraola still shaping his squad, all eyes will be on how Liverpool fare once the season gets under way, starting with the visit to St James' Park.
Based on reporting from Guardian Football.