Twelve months ago, Liverpool were five from five in the Premier League, cruising towards what looked like a title defence under Arne Slot. One of those early victories came against Bournemouth, then managed by Andoni Iraola. Few could have predicted that, by the following summer, Iraola would be the man tasked with leading Liverpool himself.

A coach defined by intensity

Iraola, 44, arrives at Anfield with a reputation built on relentless work and a fierce commitment to high-intensity football. Those inside Liverpool describe him as a six-days-a-week coach who is frequently the first on the training pitch, setting out cones before sessions begin. Forward Lewis Koumas summed up the environment: "It's really intense. There's a lot of hard work and no sort of light days. Everyone's putting in 100%."

That drive extends beyond the training ground. Iraola has settled into life in the beach town of Formby — a neighbourhood previously home to former Liverpool managers Jurgen Klopp and Brendan Rodgers — and has been spotted in Liverpool city centre on several occasions. An enthusiastic cyclist, he has made the most of the coastal routes along the Merseyside coastline.

Adapting to a bigger stage

Inside Liverpool's AXA Training Centre in Kirkby, Iraola keeps a low profile. He rarely uses his own office, preferring the coaches' room shared by assistants Tommy Elphick, Shaun Cooper, and Pablo de la Torre — who followed Iraola from Rayo Vallecano to Bournemouth in 2023 and is considered vital in maintaining the physical standards the manager demands.

Iraola names his starting eleven on the morning of each match and holds post-match debriefs the following day. He has also adjusted training schedules around kick-off times, favouring late-afternoon and early-evening sessions — a shift from the fixed daily rhythm favoured under Slot. Conversations with Liverpool's medical staff, fitness teams, and even the Under-21s setup — coached by Rob Page — reflect a manager willing to listen and learn.

"We have an understanding of how the first team play and key principles, like how we press, how he wants his number 10 to press, how he wants his centre-backs to press — we mirror that absolutely," Page said.

Youth at the heart of the project

One of the central reasons Liverpool pursued Iraola was his track record of developing young talent. The average age of Liverpool's Premier League squad this season stands at 25.3 — only five clubs in the division can claim a lower figure. Rio Ngumoha, 18, Trey Nyoni, 19, and Koumas, 20, all started against Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup and are expected to carry greater responsibilities throughout the campaign.

Dominik Szoboszlai this week outlined Liverpool's midfield structure under the new manager — a number six, a number eight, and a number ten — suggesting Iraola's system has the flexibility to function without the defensive midfielder many supporters called for during the transfer window, provided the collective raises its level.

A brutal schedule and unfinished business

Liverpool face a punishing fixture list. Sunday's trip to Bournemouth — where Iraola spent three years — is the side's fourth match in 12 days, and the schedule only intensifies after the international break: nine games are pencilled in between 11 October and 7 November. The squad is expected to play at least 49 games this season, a figure that could surpass 60 depending on cup progress.

The early results are mixed. Liverpool are unbeaten but sit six points behind last season's pace at the same stage. A goalless draw at home to Fulham — played less than 72 hours after a UEFA Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid — highlighted the physical toll of the condensed calendar. Despite that, Liverpool have registered the most sprints of any team in the Premier League so far.

Iraola will no doubt have noted Bournemouth's winning UEFA Europa League debut against Real Sociedad — in the Basque region where the Spaniard grew up — with quiet satisfaction. But his focus shifts back to the south coast on Sunday, where a first Premier League win of the season on familiar ground would be the ideal way to head into the break. As vice-captain Alisson made clear last week, draws are not enough for Liverpool — and Iraola knows it.