Liverpool legend, Jamie Carragher, has shared his thoughts on Liverpool’s chances of winning the Premier League title next season amid growing expectations around the club’s new era under manager Andoni Iraola.
After guiding Bournemouth to their highest-ever Premier League points tally and securing a first-ever European qualification last season, Iraola has now taken over at Liverpool, replacing Arne Slot, who left the club after a trophyless campaign.
There is significant anticipation surrounding the Spanish coach, who has already strengthened the squad with the signing of Victor Muñoz from Osasuna and is expected to bring in another winger during the summer transfer window.
The key debate heading into the new season is whether Iraola can immediately mount a serious title challenge, a question Carragher addressed this week, although he stopped short of backing Liverpool as outright champions.
“Can they challenge? Yes. Those days are gone from when I played when managers came in and it was like a four or five-year project to try and win the league or come close to winning the league.
“Those days are gone and I said that when Arne Slot came in. You know, Jurgen Klopp’s team finished third, you’ve got to go for the league and he won the league, and it’s the same with Iraola.
“Liverpool finished fifth last season, nowhere near good enough.
“So, I’m not expecting Liverpool to win the league next season, but we are Liverpool, we’re going to spend big in the summer, we’ve got a lot of great players and yeah, we’re gonna challenge.”
Liverpool’s opening fixtures will see them take on Newcastle United, host Nottingham Forest and Fulham, and travel to newly-promoted Ipswich Town in what will be an early test for Iraola as he aims to build momentum in his first season in charge.
