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<\/p>\nMichael Owen speaks to the ECHO about Liverpool’s new head Andoni Iraola, who has taken over from the sacked Arne Slot<\/p>\n
Andoni Iraola of Bournemouth during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Bournemouth at Anfield on August 15, 2025(Image: Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth\/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Michael Owen believes Andoni Iraola’s brand of football will have Liverpool challenging for the Premier League<\/a> title next season – likening the new head coach’s style to that of Jurgen Klopp<\/a>.<\/p>\n Iraola<\/a> has replaced Arne Slot<\/a> as head coach, signing a two-year deal last week<\/a>, with the club looking to implement a more aggressive and front-footed playing style after a disappointing campaign under the previous boss, who oversaw 20 defeats across all competitions.<\/p>\n Despite having one of the smallest revenues in the Premier League, the new man led Bournemouth to a sixth-place finish last time out and was only pipped to the final Champions League<\/a> qualification spot by Liverpool<\/a> on the last day of the season.<\/p>\n Iraola had been in talks with AC Milan before the Reds emerged as his destination.<\/p>\n And Owen, who scored 158 times for Liverpool, between 1997 and 2004, thinks the Basque’s methods will translate to the squad Slot leaves behind at Anfield<\/a>.<\/p>\n “I\u2019m excited,” Owen tells the 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.<\/p>\n “Iraola plays a good style of football, it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n “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.<\/p>\n “Now at Liverpool it\u2019s multiple competitions, including the Champions League, a whole new level of pressure as well that he will face.”<\/p>\n Iraola arrives on Merseyside without any major silverware on his CV, with the former Athletic defender winning just the Cypriot Super Cup in 2018 with AEK Larnaca.<\/p>\n Owen accepts that might be a concern for the club of Liverpool’s size but thinks the attractive style played at Bournemouth should be enough to ease those worries.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n “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\u2019t challenge for the title next season.<\/p>\n “They have top players, they have played a style of football before which can complement the way Iraola wants to plays, it\u2019s exciting for Liverpool to go down this route.<\/p>\n “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\u2019t deny, that this is a step up for Iraola.<\/p>\n “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.”<\/p>\n Michael Owen was speaking to the ECHO as the face of Casino.org in the UK, a leading comparison website helping Brits find online casinos<\/a> that suit their preferences.<\/p>\n Get the best Liverpool FC news and analysis straight to your Inbox courtesy of the Echo!<\/p>\n It’s as simple as 1-2-3.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/0_Screenshot-2026-06-03-at-133610.png\")
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