According to the Liverpool Echo, Michael Owen believes Andoni Iraola can lead Liverpool to challenge for the Premier League title next season.
Michael Owen believes Iraola's footballing style will make Liverpool contenders for the Premier League title next season, comparing the new manager's approach to Klopp's.
Iraola has succeeded Slot as Liverpool's head coach, signing a two-year contract last week. After a disappointing season under Slot, where Liverpool lost 20 games across all competitions, the club hopes to play a more aggressive, high-pressing style of football under the new manager.
Despite Bournemouth being one of the Premier League's lowest-spending clubs, Iraola led them to a sixth-place finish last season, only being edged out by Liverpool on the final day, missing out on the last Champions League spot.
Before Liverpool became Iraola's next destination, he had been in talks with AC Milan.
Owen scored 158 goals during his time at Liverpool from 1997 to 2004. He believes the Basque coach's philosophy can adapt to the squad Slot left behind at Anfield.
Owen told the Liverpool Echo: "I'm really looking forward to it. I'm sure every Liverpool fan is as well. You've seen what Iraola did at Bournemouth, you've seen the way they play, and the way they got some big results against the big teams like Arsenal and Manchester City last season."
"Iraola's style of football is good, not too dissimilar to Klopp. I'm sure Liverpool will try to press high, try to win the ball back, and then attack positively. Iraola has what it takes to succeed at Liverpool."
"Of course, it's definitely a big step up. Bournemouth only played in the Premier League, so players had time to recover and time to play the way he wanted them to."
"Now at Liverpool, he'll be facing multiple competitions, including the Champions League, and the pressure will be on a completely different level."
Iraola arrived in Merseyside without any major trophies on his resume. As a former Athletic Bilbao defender, he had only won the Cypriot Super Cup with AEK Larnaca in 2018.
Owen admitted this might be a concern for a club of Liverpool's stature, but he believes Bournemouth's previously entertaining football is enough to alleviate these doubts.
Owen added: "Yes, of course, the lack of trophy experience is a concern. But the board has done its research and believes Iraola is the right coach to lead Liverpool forward."
"His style of football is right, he has rich Premier League experience, and his football is exciting and attractive. There's no reason why Liverpool can't challenge for the title next season."
"Liverpool have top players, and the team has previously played a style of football that can complement Iraola's philosophy. For Liverpool, taking this path is exciting."
"Iraola has achieved important results against Arsenal, Manchester City, and Liverpool, so he knows how a team can beat strong opponents. He has experience in beating these strong teams he will face in the future. But it's undeniable that this is an upgrade for Iraola."
"He is now the new manager of a big club like Liverpool, so it's very important for him to make his objectives and playing style clear to the team. When the players return from the World Cup, he needs to immediately make a strong impression on them."
Michael Owen's interview with the Liverpool Echo was conducted in his capacity as the UK representative for Casino.org. The website is a comparison platform that helps UK users find online casinos that match their preferences.