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Ex-Liverpool star spots key difference between Arne Slot and 'brilliant' Andoni Iraola

As Andoni Iraola continues to settle into his life at Liverpool, the Spaniard continues to be compared to his predecessor, Arne Slot, with the differences seemingly clear

Andoni Iraola is still settling into life as Liverpool head coach
Andoni Iraola is still settling into life as Liverpool head coach

Former Liverpool ace Conor Coady believes that Andoni Iraola's start to life on Merseyside has "gone under the radar", as he details the difference between the head coach and his predecessor, Arne Slot.

It follows a positive first few months at Anfield for the Spaniard, having lost just once in the Premier League so far this season, while a 100 percent record remains in the Champions League after three fixtures of varying difficulty.

Considering the difficulty the team faced last season, there was no expectation that the side would be immediately competitive, with some performances still looking far from complete.

However, it's a start that has eased some concerns that were present early on, with the belief that Iraola can bring about the stability that Liverpool needs to push on and create the next great team in the club's history.

Reflecting on his start at Anfield so far, former Reds defender Coady has discussed Iraola and told Sky Sports: "I think he's doing brilliant, by the way, I really do. He's gone under the radar a little bit. With the results, he has just said there he's won the last four, which is huge."

While results have been positive, more has changed on the pitch than just the points making their way to Anfield more often.

There has been a change of approach, with more emphasis put on being intense and pressing well, as opposed to the possession-based approach of Iraola's predecessor, Slot.

Coady has also reflected on the huge changes he has noticed between the two head coaches, as he added: "We saw last season with Arne Slot, when he was there. People wanted the younger players to play a little bit more, to get a few more minutes.

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola.
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola.

"He (Iraola) really trusts them. We've seen a lot of minutes for Trey Nyoni, we've seen a lot of minutes for Rio [Ngumoha]. Lewis Koumas is obviously playing a lot, (James) McConnell is in tonight. I really enjoy what I'm seeing, and I think he's doing a great job at the minute."

It's a level of pragmatism that is clearly needed in a Liverpool boss at the moment, with a squad filled with a mix-and-match of different profiles and a general lack of depth.

That has already seen the likes of Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni become first-team stars, creating far more value within the side after back-to-back summers of heavy spending.

The Reds will be hoping that the manager's ability to bring a semblance of calm can help create a team with a clear identity, rather than chaos and confusion, which can lead to better decisions across all levels and even better results on the pitch.

Whether he can do that remains to be seen, but the early signs for Liverpool are certainly promising ahead of the rest of a busy campaign.

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