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Liverpool are “not currently expected to open talks” with Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, despite being admirers of the Spaniard, according to reports.

The 43-year-old had been tipped to succeed Arne Slot in the dugout at Anfield, with the Dutchman having had a very poor second campaign in charge of the Reds.

Sporting director Richard Hughes has close ties to Iraola, having worked with him during his time at the Cherries.

However, TEAMtalk claim that it now seems likely that Slot will remain in charge following the Merseyside club’s qualification for the Champions League.

Why Iraola was under consideration

The Spanish coach has guided Bournemouth to the highest finish in their history. The South Coast club ended the campaign in 6th place, three points behind Liverpool. BBC pundit Wayne Rooney was effusive in his praise of the manager:

“He’s done an absolutely incredible job. I think he’s got a character about him which I like, and he got three points from his first nine games, and to recover from that, firstly, he’s done well to do that, but to keep pushing this Bournemouth team and losing players and keep pushing them further up the league and get them in the top six, that is incredible.”

Iraola won’t be sticking around for next season, though, when the Cherries will be playing in the Europa League. He is set to leave the Vitality Stadium when his contract expires at the end of next month, with Marco Rose taking his place in the dugout.

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Why are Liverpool sticking with Slot?

A majority of supporters were hoping for a change of manager following what has been a woeful campaign by the club’s standards. 60 points from 38 games, with 12 defeats and 53 goals conceded, is simply not good enough.

Slot believes that injuries have played a big part in the difficulties that the Reds have faced, and it appears the club hierarchy want to give him another chance. Significant changes are expected to the playing squad over the coming months.

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