Andoni Iraola is the overwhelming favourite to become Liverpool's next manager with the Bournemouth boss expected to hold talks with the Reds this week
Jamie Carragher says he has concerns about Liverpool potentially appointing Andoni Iraola as the club's next manager. The Reds decided to part ways with Arne Slot at the weekend following a underwhelming second season at the helm at Anfield.
Slot led Liverpool to fifth place in the Premier League, which proved sufficient to secure Champions League football, but the Reds accumulated just 60 points - a staggering 24 fewer than the previous campaign, when they lifted the title. Iraola has quickly emerged as the early frontrunner to take charge, with the Reds entering formal discussions with the 43-year-old's representatives this week.
Carragher has now shared his thoughts on the prospect of Iraola taking the hot-seat at Anfield and explained his concerns surrounding the potential move. “We watch Iraola every week, no one can say you don’t love watching Bournemouth play,” Carragher said on The Overlap's Fan Debate.
“If Bournemouth are on the TV, you watch them. You think we’re going to watch a good game.
“I said this last season, we were talking about the Chelsea manager and it was on a Monday Night Football. We were looking at Chelsea’s options and Iraola was there, and I actually made the point - so I can’t go back on it - I said I think Iraola is making a mistake leaving Bournemouth.
“Because the next thing he needs to prove is he can manage a European season. What he asks of his players physically, and when you’re in Europe, you’ve got to rotate, so all of these things come into it.
“I thought that would be the next step for him, just to prove he could still produce the goods in a European season and then he’d get his move to his next club.” Carragher went on to outline the challenges Iraola could face as Liverpool manager compared to his time at Bournemouth.
The Liverpool legend said: “Do they get injuries? If you look at most of his seasons, the second half of the season, they [Bournemouth] drop off.
“I think last season was the first time they had a great second half of the season. Normally, they’re up there at the start of the season.
“So these are the things that you have to take into account, and then does the intensity actually have to drop off a little bit? So you’re not actually getting the full Iraola, because you’re getting too many injuries, you’ve got too many games.
“And then he’s actually going to be more of a footballing manager, you’re on the ball more at Liverpool than you are at Bournemouth.”