ALEX SCOTT predicts that heavy metal football will be returning to Anfield.
The Bournemouth midfielder is adamant that incoming Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola, who spent three years on the south coast, will deliver the same edge-of-your-seat, high-intensity, aggressive football which saw Jurgen Klopp transform the Merseyside club.
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Alex Scott says Liverpool fans should be excited by the appointment of Andoni Iraola Credit: Getty
The former Bournemouth boss was appointed as the new Liverpool head coach on Thursday Credit: Reuters
So this is all good news for Liverpool fans who were bored stiff by the dull football churned out by Arne Slot’s team last season.
Yet Slot has gone and now the Spaniard, 43, has been confirmed as Liverpool manager.
Scott said: “He is obviously a great manager. You see what we have done as a club at Bournemouth and how we have progressed over the three seasons while he was with us.
“I think the way we press out of possession is very aggressive, maybe similar to the early Klopp team at Liverpool that had that fierce aggressiveness and pressing with the wingers.
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“I would say he is similar to that. So Liverpool fans should definitely be so excited and he has done a lot for me personally.”
One potential issue is that Iraola is incredibly under-stated and modest.
Not just compared to Klopp but even Slot.
In a worst-case scenario, the Liverpool job, one of the biggest in the world, could crush Iraola and he could end up being a total disaster.
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Yet Scott insists this will not happen and Iraola will command respect in the dressing room. So will the players respond to him?
Scott said: “I believe so, yes. He has done it with us and, obviously, Liverpool is a bigger club and a massive club in the Premier League, but I believe there is no reason why he can’t go in there and be a top manager and take them back to the level they were at.
“I have improved loads this season, out of possession and in possession. I feel like I have had his trust.
“Defensively, maybe in my first two seasons, I wasn’t at the level to be playing in the Premier League and that is something I had to learn on and learn from the players ahead of me in the team.
“But he put his trust in me from the first game of the season and I started and played 34 full games this year, so that is something to be really proud of. Injury-free as well, which I was happy with.
“The manager has been amazing for me, working with me going forward, defensively, being more aggressive, and that is the reason I played most games this season.”
So you can be sure that Iraola will produce individual work programmes for all of the squad to make them better.
Liverpool do have some excellent players in this squad, even the signings last summer that did not all work.
Yet they must have the confidence to express themselves and clearly, with Liverpool finishing fifth and 25 points behind champions Arsenal, this was not happening last season.
It would not be a surprise if Scott ends up following Iraola to Liverpool.
You would expect the Basque manager to sign at least a couple of the players who served him so well at the Vitality Stadium.
Scott is currently in Palm Beach with the England squad as a training player but he is hoping to secure his first cap against New Zealand tomorrow.
The Arsenal quartet of Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze, Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke are due to arrive in the next 24 hours but they will play no part in the friendly in Tampa.
The Three Lions also have another friendly against Costa Rica in Orlando on Wednesday before the squad heads to Kansas.
Scott added: “My dad is over here and I have a few family members coming over on Friday as well.
“For me, it is just an honour to be here and be part of the prep camp.
“It’s obviously disappointing not to be in the final squad, but for him (Tuchel) to put the trust and belief in me to join the group and come here ahead of such a massive tournament is a real privilege.
“As a kid, you dream to play for your country. Obviously I haven’t got my cap yet, but even being here and being around so many top players who will hopefully go on and win the trophy for us, being a fan first and foremost and watching so many tournaments, it is great being part of this group and seeing how they work day to day and seeing what goes into a World Cup preparation.”
