Jamie Carragher is worried about the prospect of Andoni Iraola succeeding Arne Slot at Liverpool, saying he would rather have appointed Chelsea-bound Xabi Alonso.
Slot was sacked by Liverpool just over a year after delivering their 20th English top-flight title, and their second in the Premier League era, last week.
He oversaw a dismal title defence in 2025-26 despite a £450m spending spree that saw the Reds bring in Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez.
After collecting 84 points in their title-winning 2024-25 season, Liverpool picked up only 60 in 2025-26, with their 24-point drop the largest recorded by any ever-present Premier League team across the last two seasons.
Former Reds midfielder Alonso, who was sacked by Real Madrid in January, was long touted as a future head coach at Anfield, but he will take charge of Chelsea on July 1.
And reports now suggest Liverpool are close to agreeing terms with another Spaniard, Iraola, following his departure from Bournemouth.
But Carragher is unsure whether the Reds have the right players to implement Iraola's high-octane style of play.
"If Liverpool chose Iraola over Alonso, it is very worrying for Liverpool," Carragher said on The Overlap.
"If it is because Alonso wants to play a back three, or his style of play, fair enough. But I am not sure Liverpool have the players to play Iraola's high-pressing game."
Last season, Bournemouth forced 298 high turnovers in the Premier League, the third-most behind Manchester City (333) and Brighton (332), while Liverpool ranked fifth with 285.
Iraola's Cherries also ranked third for shots from high turnovers (57), with Liverpool also fifth by that metric (52), though the Reds scored the most goals from such scenarios (10).
Carragher also noted that Alonso got the best out of Wirtz while at Bayer Leverkusen – the Germany international recorded 37 goal involvements in all competitions as the Werkself won a domestic double under the Spaniard in 2023-24 (18 goals, 19 assists).
"I would have changed him [Slot] for Xabi Alonso. As soon as he went to Chelsea, I was thinking that I would keep Slot," Carragher added.
"When I was thinking about Alonso, it was also because he got the best out of Florian Wirtz. If you were going to change it, why was it not for Alonso?
"With Alonso, you have an incredible playing CV, the managers he has been coached by, what he did at Leverkusen.
"He has managed Real Madrid. I know it didn't go well, but he is used to that pressure and scrutiny."
Mitchello2
0
These guys are unbelievable
dipaekost
0
carragher buy your own team and recruit a manager of your choice
Hunelopsty
0
it's about time Carrgher kept quiet, dude talk too much
wowadrsyz
0
carragher doesn't trust anyone I think he's even unsure of his children 🤣🤣
Hipbeostz
0
This clown will never keep quiet for once, why can't you applied for the job to be Liverpool manager rather than talking trash
emeziekingsley
1
i prefer iraola than alsonso,
Pedbdkmnps
0
this shit can talk
biuaklmpyz
0
Carragher seems to be and oppositions.
Ciodekopyz
1
carragar should be given the job
Zitcmnptuz
0
fuck you Carragher! I know you're working at sky spots and you get paid though speaking but please stop taking useless things
Danpixels
1
Carragher should just take the job and let’s see
Widbiltz
3
Carragher is a useless pundit
Setckmnrs
1
shut up mr carr......
kandmopty
0
Fabregas will be great manager for Liverpool
seocilopy
1
Used to that pressure and scrutiny? The guy coached in Bundesliga where we have seen (both ways) the standard of EPL. For example Wirtz, who was proven by winning League and domestic cup failed to reach those same standards in the EPL. Whereas Kane, Diaz and Ollise now look like some of the best players in the world. Yes Alonso did well in that league but what happened in La Liga where the league is different? He was unceremoniously sacked, quite quickly. Iraola is a proven EPL manager who has worked wonders at Bournemouth even though his players are ransacked in the Summer months so he has to rebuild and achieve results quickly (which he does) whilst improving his players. His trademark is 'improvement' and 'problem solving' (Are you paying attention Arne Slot). So this nonsense from Carragher before the guy has even walked through the door is petty and unconstructive. As if Klopp played in the best teams and was coached by the best managers, was he? How did he turn out? He should just keep quiet or how about he just gets behind our new manager without any spite? I am fully behind AI and would argue whether those 'elite' managers Carragher has in his mind could do what Iraola did at Bournemouth with the resources he had.
Carra is always negative, he is stupid
Rowbdprst
1
He is sports commentator so he thinks he knows better. Totally wrong. You were just a defender and not a legend... Alonso is good but will be difficult for him to change to the team. Too close to the players.
Neadenpstu
0
Carragher we all know you well, You only running mouth but you can't coach a single team
how many trophies have you won 💩 4 🧠s
Ciebcklmp
0
Oga go sit down
Neadenpstu
1
if alonso really wanted Liverpool he would have waited
Nekikmopu
1
Used to that pressure and scrutiny? The guy coached in Bundesliga where we have seen (both ways) the standard of EPL. For example Wirtz, who was proven by winning League and domestic cup failed to reach those same standards in the EPL. Whereas Kane, Diaz and Ollise now look like some of the best players in the world. Yes Alonso did well in that league but what happened in La Liga where the league is different? He was unceremoniously sacked, quite quickly. Iraola is a proven EPL manager who has worked wonders at Bournemouth even though his players are ransacked in the Summer months so he has to rebuild and achieve results quickly (which he does) whilst improving his players. His trademark is 'improvement' and 'problem solving' (Are you paying attention Arne Slot). So this nonsense from Carragher before the guy has even walked through the door is petty and unconstructive. As if Klopp played in the best teams and was coached by the best managers, was he? How did he turn out? He should just keep quiet or how about he just gets behind our new manager without any spite? I am fully behind AI and would argue whether those 'elite' managers Carragher has in his mind could do what Iraola did at Bournemouth with the resources he had.
Kris12
5
Carragher we all know you well, You only running mouth but you can't coach a single team