How Iraola is steering Liverpool beyond the Slot era

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola returns to Bournemouth on Sunday, the club where he spent three seasons before moving to Anfield this summer to replace Arne Slot. A year ago, Liverpool beat Iraola's Bournemouth on the opening night of the season that ended with them winning the title.

The 44-year-old's Liverpool side currently sits six points behind where the team stood at this stage last season, though it remains unbeaten so far. Iraola has swapped Bournemouth's coastal setting for Formby, a town near Liverpool previously home to former managers Jurgen Klopp and Brendan Rodgers.

An intense working style

According to people at the club, Iraola works six days a week and is often the first on the training pitch. Forward Lewis Koumas said sessions are highly intense, with everyone putting in full effort. The coach rarely uses his own office, preferring to spend time with assistants Tommy Elphick, Shaun Cooper and Pablo de la Torre in the coaches' room.

Unlike under Slot, when training took place at roughly the same time each day, Iraola adjusts the schedule based on the upcoming match kick-off time. He has also built closer ties with the academy and Under-21s coach Rob Page.

Young talent and a packed calendar

One of the key reasons behind Iraola's appointment was his record of developing young players — Liverpool's average squad age in the Premier League this season, 25.3, is among the lowest in the league. Young players including Rio Ngumoha, Trey Nyoni and Koumas have already taken on bigger roles than last season.

The club faces a demanding schedule ahead, with at least 49 matches expected this season and potentially up to 60 depending on cup progress. Sunday's match against Bournemouth will be Liverpool's fourth game in 12 days. Iraola, unbeaten in the Premier League since January across his two clubs, will be hoping a win on familiar ground provides the ideal send-off before the international break.