Why Andoni Iraola's Liverpool is SCARIER than you think..

Описание: Andoni Iraola | Bradley Barcola | Alexander Isak | Florian Wirtz | Cody Gakpo | Dominik Szoboszlai | Virgil van Dijk | Victor Muñoz

Two 2-2 draws to open the season, then Bradley Barcola announced on Monday — and on Friday night at Portman Road it finally clicked. Alexander Isak scored twice inside nine minutes, both set up by Cody Gakpo, Barcola came off the bench for his debut, and Andoni Iraola had his first win as Liverpool manager. Five points from three games, and you can already see what this project is supposed to become.

In this video I go through why the panic set in before a ball was kicked: a fifth-place finish, a manager sacked twelve months after winning the title, the club's best attacker of the last decade leaving as a free agent after nine seasons and 257 goals, Ibrahima Konaté walking to Real Madrid for nothing, Robertson gone, Jones sold. That is a lot of experience out of the door in one window.

Then the main event — Barcola. £106m rising to £123m, a five-year deal, the second most expensive signing in Liverpool's history behind Isak. I look at what Liverpool are actually getting: 13 goals and seven assists last season, PSG's top league scorer ahead of Dembélé and Doué, 39 goals and 35 assists in 152 appearances, two Champions Leagues at 24, three World Cup goals for France. And the honest concerns too — one league assist in 29 games, no real pre-season, and the fact he was fourth-choice in big games, which is exactly why he was gettable.

I also make the case for the Iraola appointment and the Richard Hughes connection behind it, why Barcola fits transition football better than he'd have fitted Slot, and the knock-on effects: Gakpo shifting right, Rio Ngumoha's pathway getting blocked, and Victor Muñoz as the sleeper of the window. Plus the parts nobody wants to talk about — a thin midfield, an ageing captain, and Isak carrying the number nine burden alone with Ekitike out.

So what is success this season? My honest take at the end, plus why I think you should give it until Christmas before writing the obituary. Atlético Madrid at Anfield is next.

Let me know where you stand in the comments. Like and subscribe for more.

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