How Andoni Iraola Is Shaping Liverpool’s Early Season Style

Four pre-season matches provide only a brief glimpse, yet Andoni Iraola is already leaving his mark on Liverpool. Fans often care not just about wins but the way their team plays. When results falter, an entertaining style can buy managers extra time, and Iraola seems to understand this well.

He took over from Arne Slot, who lifted the Premier League with Liverpool last season, but many see Iraola’s approach as closer to the intense, fast-paced football Anfield adored under Jurgen Klopp. How has this translated into the Reds’ performances so far?

Pre-Season Results and Possession Stats

• Wins: Sunderland, Wrexham
• Losses after leading by two goals: Leeds, Monaco
• Average possession: 60.6%
• Increase in possession compared to Bournemouth last season: +12.9%

Compared to his previous team, Bournemouth, Liverpool hold the ball more, facing opponents who tend to sit deep. Iraola’s challenge is balancing possession with the energetic, chaotic style he favors.

Possession and Build-Up Play

The Reds often start attacks from the back, involving goalkeeper, defenders, and one or two central midfielders. Dominik Szoboszlai and Trey Nyoni have been key deeper midfielders, dropping to receive the ball and feed wide players.

Iraola’s teams are known for quick, vertical counter-attacks, but Liverpool’s build-up uses short passes to invite pressure before launching forward passes, creating their own chances on the break. If opponents press aggressively, Liverpool switch to long balls from goalkeepers Alisson or Giorgi Mamardashvili, aiming to win second balls and exploit gaps centrally.

Influence of Marcelo Bielsa

Iraola draws heavily from his mentor, former Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa, under whom he played at Athletic Club. He credits Bielsa’s offensive drills and accepts disorder in attack. Liverpool now play with fluidity rather than strict positional discipline, similar to Bielsa’s style.

One feature borrowed is the use of wide triangles or trios. Full-backs and wingers interchange positions constantly. For example, on the left side, full-backs push high alongside wing players like Rio Ngumoha or Cody Gakpo, while Florian Wirtz, operating mainly as number 10, drifts wide to create multiple passing options. This rotation makes marking difficult and encourages dynamic crossing opportunities near the goal.

Risks of Being Top-Heavy

This attacking freedom leaves Liverpool vulnerable defensively. Both full-backs and two midfielders join the attack, often leaving just two center-backs and one holding midfielder behind. This exposes them to counter-attacks, an issue inherited from Slot’s tenure. Iraola aims to maintain attacking chaos while adding defensive control but may struggle to keep extra players back due to his style, which often pushes six or seven players forward.

His hope lies in winning the ball back quickly through intense counter-pressing, especially on the wings, but this remains a work in progress. After conceding late leads in games, Iraola acknowledged, "We can’t sustain the level we want; we have work to do," pointing to stamina, physicality, and refining the press as areas needing improvement.

Defensive Shape and Pressing

During pre-season, Liverpool frequently pressed in a 4-4-2 diamond shape, coaxing opponents into short passes before launching aggressive pressure, often directing play centrally to trap opponents.

Dominik Szoboszlai plays a vital defensive role as second central midfielder, covering a lot of ground and helping maintain numerical balance during pressing sequences. His timing to step forward to press is critical to avoid leaving gaps. Iraola keeps a spare defender at the back when opponents field three forwards, typically maintaining four defenders, which means fewer players up front but demands intense teamwork and cover.

Early Signs and Challenges Ahead

Four games is a small sample, yet Iraola’s influence is clear, echoing his Bournemouth style marked by speed and controlled chaos. The big question is how he balances that frenetic energy with a squad lacking depth and expected to control possession longer. The coming season will reveal how these ideas mesh and evolve.