Jamie Carragher has expressed doubts regarding Liverpool’s choice of Andoni Iraola as the new manager, following the dismissal of Arne Slot after just one season. Slot had led the team to a Premier League title, but the club swiftly turned to the Basque coach after his successful spell at Bournemouth, where he secured sixth place, providing the Cherries with a spot in European football.

Despite this success, Carragher pointed out that the league standings were inconsistent, noting that Bournemouth achieved only 13 wins, the same as Everton, who finished significantly lower in 13th place. He raised concerns about whether Iraola could motivate an expensive squad to adopt his pressing style, questioning if players like Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, and Hugo Ekitike possess the necessary attributes.

In his Telegraph column, Carragher stated:

• “Can Iraola turn these players into a £310m pressing machine?”
• He also highlighted the shift from a 4-3-3 formation to Iraola’s preference for 4-4-2, which could complicate matters.

Iraola, however, believes his prior experience in the Premier League gives him an edge in implementing his vision at Liverpool. He emphasized the importance of maintaining the club's identity while adapting to the players at his disposal.

Carragher concluded that given the lack of established managerial options, Liverpool might have been better off retaining Slot, suggesting that changes in personnel could be as impactful as those in management.