Iraola Liverpool Style Could Echo Klopp Attacking Era, Scott Says

Liverpool’s move for Andoni Iraola is being backed by Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, who expects the new manager to revive the high-tempo attacking football once associated with Jurgen Klopp at Anfield. Scott says Iraola’s approach can restore that intense, forward-minded style, while also improving players individually, based on three seasons of work together on the south coast.

Iraola is appointed on a two-year deal as successor to Arne Slot, after Liverpool’s frustrating 2025-26 campaign. The team finish fifth with 60 points, their lowest total for a Premier League side in that position or higher since Tottenham also post 60 in 2006-07. The 24-point drop from 2024-25 is the largest by any ever-present top-flight club across those seasons.

Supporters are satisfied with Champions League qualification, yet remain unhappy with the more cautious style seen under Slot’s second season. Mohamed Salah, whose nine-year Liverpool spell ends in 2025-26, posts on social media about wanting to see the “heavy metal” attacking football associated with Klopp return, after that approach delivered major success for the club.

Scott believes Iraola can deliver something close to that intensity for Liverpool’s current squad. Discussing what Anfield can expect from the Spaniard, Scott offers a clear verdict based on personal experience, referencing both the work done at Bournemouth and the tactical identity that shaped the team’s development under Iraola across three Premier League seasons.

He is obviously a great manager, Scott said. You see what we have done as a club at Bournemouth and how we have progressed over the three seasons he was with us. I think the way we press out of possession is very aggressive, maybe similar to the early Klopp teams Liverpool had, that fierce aggressiveness and pressing with the wingers. I would say he is similar to that. Liverpool fans should definitely be so excited. He has done a lot for me personally.

Iraola’s Bournemouth side are built around front-foot pressing and quick attacking transitions, ideas Scott believes will suit Liverpool’s squad. That style mirrors Klopp’s early Liverpool teams, who combined relentless pressing with wide forwards closing down defenders. Scott argues Iraola’s emphasis on wingers and intensity out of possession can help restore a more familiar identity at Anfield.

Before leaving for Merseyside, Iraola oversees a strong three-year spell at Bournemouth, capped by the club qualifying for European competition for the first time. Under Iraola, the Cherries repeatedly improve their Premier League tallies, reflecting steady development and tactical clarity that convinces Liverpool to target the Spaniard as Slot’s replacement.

A key figure in that rise is Scott, signed from Bristol City in 2023 after strong Championship performances. By 2025-26, Scott is central to Bournemouth’s midfield, starting 36 of 39 games in all competitions and scoring four goals. Only Adrien Truffert, with 1,312 passes, and Marcos Senesi, with 1,839, complete more successful passes than Scott’s 1,255.

Scott’s performances underline how Iraola develops midfielders who can contribute in possession and press with intensity. Signed as a promising youngster, Scott grows into a reliable starter, combining ball progression with defensive work. That growth is central to Bournemouth’s European push and helps explain why Scott views Iraola as a manager who can unlock Liverpool’s squad potential.

Liverpool attacking football Andoni Iraola: big signings, Scott’s improvement and Anfield expectations

Liverpool invest heavily the previous summer, bringing in Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike and former Bournemouth defender Milos Kerkez. All arrive for large transfer fees. However, each struggles to fully adapt to Slot’s tactical setup, leading to questions about how the team’s attacking pieces are being used across the 2025-26 campaign.

Scott is confident Iraola will improve those high-profile signings, pointing to personal progress under the Spaniard as a guide. The midfielder highlights how Iraola’s trust and detailed coaching transformed levels on and off the ball, helping turn early development challenges into a regular place in Bournemouth’s starting eleven throughout the 2025-26 season.

I have improved loads this season, out of possession and in possession. I feel like I have had his trust, Scott added. Defensively,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 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. 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.

With Iraola now confirmed at Anfield, Liverpool look to blend Champions League qualification with a sharper attacking identity. The club’s recent points drop, Salah’s public wish for heavy metal football and Scott’s detailed praise all point in the same direction, as supporters across regions, including the Middle East, assess how quickly Iraola’s methods reshape the team.