So is Murphy right? Will Iraola’s appointment bring hope and excitement rather than the fear of another underwhelming campaign?
Slot’s side cantered to a record-equalling 20th league title in his first season in charge, but finished fifth (25 points behind champions Arsenal) in his second.
Peter Bolster – from the Spion Kop podcast – told BBC Radio Merseyside: “I’m very excited and I’m a little bit surprised with how excited I am.
“Large parts of last season I wasn’t excited to watch Liverpool. I wasn’t excited to go to Anfield and I certainly wasn’t excited for pre-season or the start of next season. And whatever happens from this point onwards, I am excited.
“Iraola might be the perfect replacement. We might be sitting in this situation in two years, saying it didn’t really work, but I’m excited with the project and that’s what all fans want to be.”
Following Slot’s departure, Liverpool were keen to make an appointment at the earliest possible opportunity and wanted a manager who fits their preferred playing style, which is to deliver front-foot, aggressive football.
A style more aligned to how they played under former boss Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool fan Ian Walker said: “I have mixed feelings. That awful style of play [under Slot last season] had to be turned around as soon as possible, but the role has proved to be too much for some, both in terms of consistently securing results or in coping with the expectations and pressures of the media and the fanbase.
“I can still see Roy Hodgson tearing at his face on the bench when things weren’t going well. Even Jurgen Klopp – adored by the fans, the players and the club – had to stop after great success and an exciting style of football. Good luck to Iraola.”
The Redmen TV’s Ste Plunkett told BBC Radio Merseyside: “Of the talent pool that was out there and the managers that were available, it seems an obvious fit in terms of what he does with his team and what we really want a Liverpool manager to do with our team.
“I think the construction of the squad last summer – and potentially with the additions we do this year – we have to find a manager for the squad and I very much think we didn’t have that last season.
“You would have liked to have seen [Iraola] have some experience in Europe, but then he’s never really worried about reputation or who he’s playing against.
“That doesn’t seem to bother him, so I think the fact that he’s fresh to all of that, he’ll go into it invigorated and there won’t be a hangover over previous campaigns where things have gone wrong.”
