If everything falls into place for Liverpool, they can win the Premier League this season despite having a new manager and supposedly being in a transition period – just as they did two years ago.
The problem, however, is that there might be too many ‘ifs’, ‘buts’ and ‘maybes’.
If Alexander Isak puts a forgetful first year behind him to return to his Newcastle form, where the £125million man was an all-round forward who would score goals for fun and assist too, then Liverpool absolutely could thrive.
If Florian Wirtz starts to adapt to the physical demands of English football, finds his perfect position and lives up to his £116million price-tag, the Reds will create a lot more chances.
If the fabled Mohamed Salah replacement hits the ground running, then Andoni Iraola’s men can beat anyone, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola the top target and the clubs in dialogue over finding a financial middle ground.
If Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch return to the form they showed in 2024-25 – from the walking football we saw at times last season – then the team can launch a serious title bid.
Andoni Iraola has been impressive all summer – but there are still several gaps in his Liverpool squad on the eve of the season
Alexander Isak would be the answer to some of Liverpool’s problems if he can rediscover anything approaching his best form at Newcastle
If Virgil van Dijk retains his high standards at the ripe old age of 35 and his defensive partner, be it the new youngster Jeremy Jacquet or Barcelona loanee Ronald Araujo, lives up to their billing, then the defensive worries of the end of the Arne Slot era will be banished.
This list could go on and on: can Alisson get over the injury issues that saw him miss 18 league or European games last term? Can the full backs, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, become more consistent? Will Anfield become a fortress again? The biggie: will Arsenal’s level drop off?
You get the gist. And we can also preempt your response: if my grandmother had wheels, she would be a bike. It is a fair point – but it is also fair to say Liverpool are probably the Premier League team with the most question marks over their head.
Here’s what we can guarantee, though, from the new boss: high-octane football with fast, one-touch attacks; relentless Jurgen Klopp-like pressing off the ball.
Sacking Slot was the correct call – especially given the fan disgruntlement around him – and many of the problems that arose towards the end of his tenure have been solved, directly or indirectly.
The football that many supporters moaned about as dull or boring should be transformed under Iraola. He has also vowed to use youth players, with 19-year-old midfielder Trey Nyoni breathing down the necks of Gravenberch, Mac Allister et al for first-team minutes, especially after the pending exit of Curtis Jones.
Iraola will also immerse himself in the city to get a true sense of Liverpool and its fans.
While Slot was criticised for his dull football and lack of connection, there are other issues not of his making which have also been alleviated, such as Isak returning to fitness. The Swede has looked sharp in pre-season and one wonders how different last season might have been if the Reds had a true No 9.
Jeremy Jacquet has shone in pre-season and may partner Virgil van Dijk, who at 35 is 14 years his senior
Iraola put his squad through a gruelling welcome-back programme full of double sessions, with Dominik Szoboszlai raving that ‘the intensity we missed is now back’
Iraola likes his No 10 and No 9 to play in tandem and the Isak-Wirtz axis is certainly one to watch. The German midfielder will be close to Isak, almost as a second striker, akin to how Iraola’s Bournemouth played Eli Junior Kroupi and Evanilson together last term.
The new regime is all about intensity. That was the most-used word on the pre-season tour of America and the boss complained – though his words prompted quite the overreaction – that his team could only run for 30 minutes.
Iraola lost six and drew three of his first nine league games at Bournemouth and has had poor starts at most of his clubs. He cannot afford a similar introduction here but an inconsistent first month or two is possible as his players get used to the new intensity level.
Sacking Slot was not a decision taken lightly and one that, as of the last week of the season, was still deemed as unlikely. But sporting director Richard Hughes – who is almost certain to leave the club this year – knew Iraola was available.
The pair had worked together at Bournemouth and maintained relations so Hughes asked the Basque to hold fire on approaches from AC Milan, Bayer Leverkusen and Crystal Palace.
Iraola met Liverpool staff in London in the same week he gave a detailed handover to incoming Cherries boss Marco Rose – and he was soon signing his contract.
One thing that stood out to Liverpool was his ability to improve players. Look at Antoine Semenyo: once a squad player, then a huge asset (whom Liverpool tried to sign a year ago). Dominic Solanke, Justin Kluivert and a string of unknown young players, too.
Look too at the players Bournemouth lost in the last 12 months, and the calibre of clubs they signed for: Semenyo (Manchester City), Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid), Milos Kerkez (Liverpool), Ilya Zabarnyi (Paris Saint-Germain). None were well-known names before Iraola.
Iraola and his lieutenants oversee training during Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the US
Milos Kerkez, reunited with his former Bournemouth boss, has been a real standout. The flying Hungarian full back is a force down the left flank
The overall vibe from pre-season is that players are enjoying the new regime and there are certainly more positives than negatives.
Liverpool have won three of five friendlies and their last one, a 2-0 win over Cesc Fabregas’s Como, was the most complete performance both on and off the ball.
Iraola put the squad through a gruelling welcome-back programme full of double sessions that had players lying down exhaused at the end of drills, some complaining of feeling sick, and Dominik Szoboszlai raved that ‘the intensity we missed is now back’.
The Hungary skipper has stepped up as a leader and is a future captain in waiting. He was also king of the card game UNO on Liverpool’s US tour and has been influential in driving standards on the training pitch.
Szoboszlai, though, does not get any special treatment. Iraola has been credited with giving the same amount of time and effort to a rookie teenager as his star names. He has taken a shine to youngsters James McConnell, Lewis Koumas and Luke Chambers in pre-season. All three were had been shoo-ins for loans this summer – and though they still may head out, their chances of sticking around have increased.
There is still important work to be done this summer, not least from those looking after Liverpool’s recruitment.
The Reds first targeted winger Yan Diomande and made a bid of around £86million, only for RB Leipzig to reject it and ultimately sell the Ivorian to Real Madrid for around £120million. After that, they pivoted to long-term target Barcola, who was also an option last summer.
The ending of that drawn-out saga will have a huge impact on whether or not Iraola can get the best out of his team, with a slow transfer window to this point only featuring the additions of £34.5million winger Victor Munoz from Osasuna and Araujo on loan.
It’s been a slow transfer window for Liverpool so far, though they did bring in winger Victor Munoz from Osasuna
Barcelona loanee Ronald Araujo, meanwhile, plugs a gap at defence and can play across the back four
Araujo plugs a gap at defence and can play across the back four but a lot will rely on how much young Jacquet, 21, and fellow defender Giovanni Leoni, 19, can contribute.
Frimpong has kept a low profile in pre-season but has been quietly impressive, while Kerkez, reunited with his former Bournemouth boss, has been a real standout. The flying Hungarian full back is a force down the left flank.
In midfield, they are about to lose Jones. Nyoni will be promoted and deserves to be but Jones played well over 2,000 minutes last term and it is a lot to ask of a 19-year-old to replace him in the squad.
In attack, Liverpool have lost Salah and replaced him with Munoz. Hugo Ekitike remains injured for some time yet. Rio Ngumoha, 17, will play a bigger role and more is needed from Cody Gakpo.
Iraola has impressed thus far and has shown he is adept at working with limited options but one cannot escape the feeling that Liverpool are now weaker than the team Slot left behind. No Salah, no Andy Robertson, no Ibrahima Konate, a midfielder down with Jones’s exit.
The outlook could look completely different come the transfer deadline at 11pm on September 1 but as it stands, with days turning to hours on the countdown to the Premier League season, there are more questions than answers about the Reds.
