Michael Owen believes Andoni Iraola’s high-intensity style of football can help Liverpool challenge for the Premier League title next season, comparing the new head coach’s approach to that of Jurgen Klopp.
Iraola was appointed last two weeks on a two-year deal, replacing Arne Slot after a disappointing campaign that saw Liverpool suffer 20 defeats in all competitions.
Despite working with one of the Premier League’s smaller budgets, Iraola guided Bournemouth to a sixth-place finish, narrowly missing out on Champions League qualification to Liverpool on the final day of the season.
Michael Owen, who scored 158 goals for Liverpool between 1997 and 2004, believes the Spaniard’s aggressive, front-footed style is well suited to the squad he has inherited at Anfield.
“I’m excited,” Owen tells the Liverpool Echo. “I am sure every Liverpool fan is too. You saw what Iraola did at Bournemouth, the way they played, the way they got big results against top teams like against Arsenal and Manchester City last season.
“Iraola plays a good style of football, it’s not too dissimilar to Klopp, I am sure Liverpool will look to press high, look to win the ball back and then play positively. Iraola has the credentials to do really well at Liverpool.
“It is a big step up, for sure, Bournemouth played just in the Premier League, players had time to recover and play the type of football he wanted.
“Now at Liverpool it’s multiple competitions, including the Champions League, a whole new level of pressure as well that he will face.”
Iraola arrives at Anfield without a major trophy on his CV, having won only the Cypriot Super Cup with AEK Larnaca in 2018 during his managerial career.
While Michael Owen acknowledges that a lack of silverware may raise concerns at a club of Liverpool’s stature, he believes Iraola’s impressive work at Bournemouth and his attractive style of football should help ease any doubts.
He adds: “Yes, of course [a lack of silverware] is a concern, but the board have taken a look and believe Iraola is the right coach to take Liverpool forward.
“He plays football with the right style, he has plenty of Premier League experience, his football is exciting and attractive, and there is no reason Liverpool can’t challenge for the title next season.
“They have top players, they have played a style of football before which can complement the way Iraola wants to plays, it’s exciting for Liverpool to go down this route.
“Iraola has had big results against Arsenal and Man City and also Liverpool, so he knows how a team can beat the big teams, so he has experience of beating these big teams he will come up against. But you can’t deny, that this is a step up for Iraola.
“He is a new manager of a big club like Liverpool, so it is really important to set out his aims and ways of playing with the squad. Once the players return from the World Cup, he will need to instantly look to impress the players.”
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