Iraola reshapes Liverpool backroom staff to address set-piece vulnerabilities
Andoni Iraola has retained key coaches from his Bournemouth tenure and appointed new specialists to fix the defensive frailties that undermined Liverpool’s title-winning campaign last season.
Andoni Iraola has begun restructuring Liverpool’s coaching staff, bringing trusted colleagues from Bournemouth to Anfield to address the club’s defensive vulnerabilities. The new manager will take charge of his first match in a pre-season friendly against Sunderland in Nashville this Saturday.
Iraola has appointed Pablo de la Torre as his assistant coach, continuing a partnership that began at AEK Larnaca and Rayo Vallecano. He described De la Torre as "much more than a physical coach really" and emphasized the strategic value of having trusted confidants for his first season in charge.
The managerial reshuffle also includes first-team coaches Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper, who previously worked with Iraola at Bournemouth. Iraola noted that their experience across clubs like Aston Villa, Brighton, and Huddersfield helped him navigate English football culture and player mentality. This continuity proved vital after his initial assistant, Iñigo Pérez, was denied a work permit upon their previous move to England.
In addition to his existing network, Iraola has brought in Alejandro Rosalen as the first-team goalkeeping coach following a five-year stint at Napoli. This blend of familiar faces and new expertise is designed to stabilize a squad that secured the league title under Arne Slot.
A primary operational focus for the new regime is eliminating Liverpool’s susceptibility to set pieces, a weakness that threatens to undermine the club's competitive and financial standing in European competitions. During Slot’s final season in charge, the club conceded 23 set-piece goals, a figure surpassed in the league only by Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, and Leeds.
To correct this tactical deficit, Iraola has delegated specific set-piece responsibilities within his new team structure. Elphick will oversee defensive set plays, while Cooper will focus on offensive and creative routines.
These external appointments will also collaborate closely with existing club personnel, including set-piece analyst Lewis Mahoney. Iraola noted that Mahoney "was very good in the second half of last season," providing a foundation for their ongoing tactical adjustments.
