Four pre‑season games is a very small sample, but Andoni Iraola is starting to put his stamp on Liverpool. Replacing Arne Slot after a Premier League win, the Spanish coach brings a style that echoes Jurgen Klopp’s heavy‑metal football.

Liverpool have beaten Sunderland and Wrexham, but squandered two‑goal leads against Leeds and Monaco. They averaged 60.6% possession, a 12.9 % jump over Bournemouth’s league average last season, showing a new challenge as opponents sit deeper.

Iraola keeps the intense, chaotic feel of his previous sides, building short with the keeper, four defenders and two central midfielders. Bielsa‑inspired, the team uses wide pairings and rotating triangles, forcing opponents to guess positions and creating dangerous crosses from close to goal.

However, the top‑heavy shape leaves only two centre‑backs and a holding midfielder behind, exposing the Reds to counter‑attacks. The loss to Monaco highlighted a lack of depth and a still‑unrefined press, but the high intensity and willingness to press from the front suggest the manager is eager to refine the balance.

Fans and pundits alike note that while the style is exciting, maintaining control over the second half will be key to boxing the Reds into a competitive season.