This time last year, Liverpool had earned a record-equalling 20th title in style, persuaded Premier League top scorer Mohamed Salah to sign an extended contract, made marquee signings from a position of strength and were about to complete a British-record transfer for Alexander Isak.
Within months, Arne Slot was under pressure, Salah was seething, predictions of continuing supremacy seemed laughable and a successful title defence looked as distant as a ferry trip from the Mersey to the Mediterranean.
Slot seemed set to stumble on before being abruptly sacked before the end of May, with Salah – the club’s most prolific attacking player ever in the Premier League – leaving prematurely and Andoni Iraola taking over at the start of June, leaving Bournemouth with European football for the first time following an 18-match unbeaten league run to end the season.
Reds sporting director Richard Hughes, who gave Iraola the Bournemouth job three seasons ago after the Spaniard impressed at Rayo Vallecano, appears to have taken a calculated gamble on a coach known for spotting and developing players, including Milos Kerkez, who the Cherries more than doubled their money on when Liverpool bought the wideman for £40 million in June 2025.
With Hughes out of contract at the end of the season, Iraola’s fortunes are likely to define the executive’s time at the club, although an entirely new era could be about to begin at Anfield, with the expectation that a consortium including extravagantly wealthy Amazon founder Jeff Bezos will buy a 30% stake in the club.
The age of spending limits means Liverpool’s financial might on the pitch will have more to do with whether Iraola can transform the mood to trophy-winning effect. Fans are naturally concerned about the motives of the investors, with the saga at Manchester United intensifying fears that Liverpool will accelerate away from their roots in the community towards a future ever-more obsessed with money.
Summer Ins and Outs
IN
Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes – £55 million
Victor Munoz from Osasuna – £34.5m
Ronald Araujo from Barcelona – season loan
OUT
Ifeanyi Ndukwe to Austria Wien – £2.6m
What do Liverpool need before the window closes?
Right-back was a persistent issue last season, losing Conor Bradley to a long-term knee injury, as well as Jeremie Frimpong to muscle issues, leaving Joe Gomez, Calvin Ramsay, Curtis Jones and even Dominik Szoboszlai to deputise with varying degrees of conviction on any given week.
Jacquet looks a sensible addition but the France Under-21 international is coming back from injury and his versatility has only extended to central defence so far in his career, so a greater choice of players capable of operating across the backline looks urgent following Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate’s exits at the end of last season, with the experienced Araujo certain to help.
Iraola used a plethora of midfielders at Bournemouth and a new number six would undoubtedly benefit the Basque. The absence of Salah – and his public outbursts – could unite the squad and its forwards, with 23-year-old Spain international Munoz the player Liverpool have settled on so far to offer an option across the frontline and wings, having looked at alternatives including Matias Fernandez-Pardo, of Lille, and Koln’s in-demand Said El Mala.
Liverpool 2026/27: One to watch
With Rio Ngumoha no longer a hidden secret, Northern Ireland newcomer Kieran Morrison could make his breakthrough, although the 19-year-old was the only unused outfield player on the bench during the pre-season friendly against Monaco at Anfield.
Morrison broke the record for the most Under-21 goals at Liverpool last season, hitting the net 15 times and producing seven assists in 26 games in the youth teams.
Slot gave Morrison his senior debut in the EFL Cup last season and the prospect signed a new four-year contract in May. A string of suitors across Europe are reportedly interested if the academy product, who has spoken glowingly of his coaching from Iraola, is not given a chance.
2026/27 Premier League: Liverpool prediction
There are countless examples of fine managers wilting at behemoths but Iraola should be judged on his track record alone and the 44-year-old is clearly capable of restoring Liverpool to contention, especially if he can bring the best out of Florian Wirtz and Isak, who could effectively become new signings after a season to forget.
Many fans lost faith with Slot’s perceived conservatism and Iraola’s front-foot approach should avoid that. Whether he will make an instant impact is debatable, having taken 10 matches to win his first league game at Bournemouth.
Liverpool fans may need to show patience on the evidence of Iraola’s 11-game winless run across more than two months last season.
101 Great Goals Prediction: 4th
