Andoni Iraola, 44, sits down with Jamie Carragher to discuss his coaching philosophy ahead of his Premier League opener at Newcastle United. The Basque coach arrived at Anfield just over two months ago, replacing Arne Slot after Liverpool's dismal title defence saw them finish fifth with 12 defeats. Iraola brings a glowing reputation from three seasons at Bournemouth, where he secured the club's highest-ever Premier League finish of sixth place.

Addressing transfer concerns, Iraola confirms Liverpool will sign players before the September 1 deadline, acknowledging the squad is still quite thin. He notes the difference from Bournemouth is primarily money and player level, but the issues remain similar, requiring patience. On his philosophy, Iraola emphasizes reading game moments and believing in his approach, though he admits adapting to Liverpool's natural control in training exercises is mandatory.

Iraola details his hybrid pressing system, mixing man-to-man and zone marking to create numerical advantages. He explains the cat-and-mouse game of inviting opposition play or pressing aggressively depending on the opponent. Reflecting on his difficult first year at Bournemouth, he notes teams with long-term managers have structural floors that guarantee minimum performance levels, something he must now build at Liverpool before Sunday's trip to St James' Park.