Iraola's Liverpool Deawn Ends in Drama: Late Goals and a Point to Build On
Andoni Iraola's first competitive match as Liverpool head coach ended in a 2-2 draw with Newcastle United — and the man himself could not hide his satisfaction at the way his side finished it.
"When you score at the end it tastes better," Iraola said after the match, reflecting on a result that could easily have slipped away (BBC Sport). It is the kind of line that tells you everything about a manager who has walked into one of the biggest jobs in world football and already found his rhythm.
For Liverpool, this was always going to be a first day like no other. Iraola was appointed over the summer after an eye-catching spell at AFC Bournemouth, where his high-energy, pressing style — essentially, asking players to chase the ball back aggressively the moment they lose it — won plenty of admirers. The Newcastle fixture was his opening test in the Premier League as Reds boss, and he had made clear in the days leading up to it that the occasion was one to savour rather than shrink from (Liverpool FC).
His first pre-match press conference, streamed live at 1.30pm BST two days before the game, carried the buzz of a new era settling in (Liverpool FC). Iraola spoke about excitement, about the challenge ahead, and about the squad he had inherited. No grand declarations, no promises of instant glory. Just a coach eager to get going.
One familiar face from his Bournemouth days is already in the building. Defender Milos Kerkez played under Iraola's system on the south coast before the Spaniard made the move to Anfield, and that shared understanding could matter as the season wears on (Liverpool FC). A manager who trusts his players and players who already know what he wants — that head start is not nothing.
A 2-2 draw away at Newcastle is a perfectly respectable opening result. Newcastle, playing at home, are no soft touch, and St James' Park — one of the loudest grounds in English football — is an intimidating place to begin. The late goals that gave Iraola his "tastes better" moment suggest a team that did not stop running, which is exactly what his coaching reputation was built on.
For fans, the takeaway is simple. Liverpool's new era starts with a point rather than three, but the signs of life are there. A manager who arrived with a reputation for relentless energy saw his team fight to the last whistle. The table will sort itself out over 38 games. What matters on day one is the feeling leaving the ground, and Iraola's players gave him — and the travelling support — something to feel good about.
The real work begins now.
