The Premier League boss is “hopeful” of landing the Liverpool job

That’s another season done and dusted for Liverpool, but the difference one year from Arne Slot’s title triumph couldn’t be more stark.

The Premier League champions are gone. Liverpool’s defense has been abysmal, dropping to 60 points in fifth place which has just secured a seat in the Champions League table.

However, fans are not confident at the moment, fearing a continuation of the current woes at the start of next season, with star forwards still underperforming and strategic imbalances still present throughout the Slot system.

FSG are determined to persevere with the under-fire Anfield manager, but a lot could change in the coming weeks.

The Premier League boss is hoping Liverpool will come calling

Slot used the word “injury” to sum up Liverpool’s campaign. It’s true that the Reds have been destroyed by fitness after fitness, but they are also misbehaving and unsure of themselves, responsible for many bad performances that could and should have been avoided.

Despite the noise of change, FSG have given little indication that they are willing to bite the bullet and fire Slot one year before the end of his contract, but the end-of-season review is coming, and sporting director Richard Hughes should consider moving Andoni Iraola, who recently led Bournemouth to the Premier League last time.

According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are always on the lookout for the outgoing Cherries manager, who would jump at the chance to manage the Anfield club.

Iraola will soon be a free agent, and with Crystal Palace eyeing him as their top target to replace Oliver Glasner, and Bayer Leverkusen hoping to land the Basque coach, Liverpool need to make a quick decision.

Journalist Julian Laurens noted that it would not be surprising if he joined Anfield in the middle of the season, saying: “I think he has been hoping for a long time that maybe Liverpool will get rid of Arne Slot and that would suit him well.

Based on the evidence, Iraola has what it takes to surpass Slot and perhaps become Liverpool’s new Jurgen Klopp.

Why Iraola could be Liverpool’s new Klopp

Liverpool cannot afford another season at such a low price. Iraola lacks experience, and that will play into FSG’s thinking, but he plays the type of football that Reds fans fell in love with when Klopp was in charge. He can bring back the good times again.

Iraola is only 43, but has worked wonders on the south coast for Bournemouth, taking over from Gary Neil and turning himself into a European outfit. Bournemouth finished sixth in the Premier League this season, coming in below Slot’s Liverpool, and will play in next year’s Europa League.

Having described his tactical style as “rock and roll”, Iraola could be a perfect fit for this Liverpool team, which has become slow and busy under Slot’s guidance. It’s a style of football that has become synonymous with the Merseyside outfit, and the likes of Mohamed Salah have called for a return to that style.

Bournemouth are now one of the most exciting outfits in the Premier League. Their high pressing and tenacity have drawn praise from all over, and it’s a throwback to a certain Klopp, who worked such magic on Merseyside.

Somehow, this feels cheap, almost as if the Slot itself is controlled, the fluid system is not working. Not really, because he won the Premier League last year.

However, a lot has gone wrong for Liverpool this season, and it feels like a clean break would be better for all teams now, with Iraola reviving the type of football fans will get behind.

Klopp’s time is over; he will not return to Anfield to lead the Reds in the Premier League. But by appointing Iraola, “the best young coach in the world” in the words of Sky Sports’ Sam Tighe, Liverpool can recover what was lost, and can once again challenge at the top of the pyramid, devouring opponents with their football.