Iraola's Liverpool in-tray: Isak, Wirtz, Alisson and defence

Andoni Iraola arrives at Anfield with a clear mandate after a miserable title defence that featured 12 Premier League defeats. Liverpool were also hammered at home by Crystal Palace in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, humiliated by Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals and swept aside by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last eight.

Sporting director Richard Hughes has turned to the Basque after Iraola’s remarkable job at Bournemouth, where he led the Cherries to a historic sixth-place finish playing ‘front-foot football’ despite very limited resources and major defensive losses. Getting Alexander Isak firing is an obvious priority.

The £125 million signing started only 13 times in an injury-plagued campaign, so minutes matter more than anything; Slot argued the World Cup could be “very helpful”, though there is a risk he breaks down again in North America.

England, Liverpool

andoni iraola, liverpool, alexander isak, alisson, wirtz, richard hughes, bournemouth, premier league, champions league, defence