Jamie Carragher shares big worries about Andoni Iraola after speaking out about Arne Slot’s firing
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has finally shared his thoughts on Arne Slot’s recent sacking and spoke about his main worry if Andoni Iraola becomes the next manager.
Slot and Liverpool ended their two-year partnership on Saturday, May 30. During his time at Anfield, Slot recorded 66 wins, 18 draws, and 29 losses in 113 games. The 47-year-old Dutch manager is also one of only two men, alongside Jurgen Klopp, to lead Liverpool to a Premier League title, having won it in 2025.
A year later, many fans seem to agree with the club’s choice to part ways, as some criticized Slot’s style as sometimes “boring.” Even Mohamed Salah called for a return to the “heavy metal football” that Klopp’s teams were known for. Earlier this May, Salah shared on social media: “I want to see Liverpool go back to being the heavy metal attacking team that opponents fear and back to being a team that wins trophies.”
Liverpool ended last season in fifth place in the Premier League without winning any silverware.
Andoni Iraola, the outgoing Bournemouth boss, is the favorite to take over at Liverpool. He impressed by leading Bournemouth to their best-ever sixth place, securing Europa League football. He’s also been linked with AC Milan, Crystal Palace, and Bayer Leverkusen. Liverpool is also looking at a few other candidates like Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeneß, Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner, and Lens boss Pierre Sage.
At the Champions League final in Budapest, former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard said Iraola might be a great match for Liverpool. “He’s done a fantastic job at Bournemouth, and his style fits Liverpool,” Gerrard told TNT Sports. “Liverpool is a top club that many top managers want to join, and because of Bournemouth, they know him well. It’s a big role in world football, and I think he deserves to be part of the conversation.”
On May 31, Jamie Carragher shared his views, also criticizing Salah’s behavior. He said he was “surprised” by the club’s decision to part ways with Slot. “Arne Slot himself mentioned in press conferences that he was close to appointing a new coach, so this came as a shock to everyone, including him,” Carragher told Sky Sports.
He admitted he felt mixed about Slot. “I could support either choice, and I understand both sides, but a top manager finds a way to improve Liverpool. Slot had trouble with the players he got. Should he have done more with them? Yes. Should the club have backed him with better players? Yes. There’s a lot of finger-pointing to do.”
Carragher then talked about Salah’s public comments. “I’m not happy with that,” he said. “It definitely upset fans, especially after what happened a year earlier. Fans have a huge say, and when star players publicly criticize a manager, it doesn’t help. I don’t want Liverpool to have player power affecting management decisions. No manager benefits when a star player publicly calls them out, no matter the situation.”
He also worried that Liverpool might end up like Manchester United did — stuck unsure about their manager, wasting time before making a change. “I don’t know what goes on behind closed doors, but I didn’t like Salah’s public post,” Carragher added. “Not every player gets on with every manager, but you don’t air it out on social media or cheer when someone attacks your manager. That probably shows the dressing room is not as settled as it seems. The new manager will have to fix that.”
Talking about Iraola becoming the next boss, Carragher praised him but also voiced some concerns. “He’s done a fantastic job at Bournemouth,” he said. “But Liverpool want to play high-intensity football, and it’s not just about that. My worry is whether they can keep that pace when playing every three days in four competitions — the FA Cup, Carabao Cup, Champions League, and Premier League.”
He added, “Liverpool were especially weak when not in possession. Iraola is great in that area, but handling tight defenses and keeping up the intensity on a busy schedule are different challenges.”
Finally, Carragher reminded everyone that whoever comes in is a risk. “Liverpool had a manager who won the league, so I was always torn,” he said. “Now they’re starting fresh, and that always carries a bit of risk.”