Andoni Iraola's dream Liverpool starting XI as trio dropped for £164million signings

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Andoni Iraola is the clear favourite to succeed Arne Slot at Liverpool with the Reds set to undergo a major change. The Dutchman was sacked on Saturday after a dismal second season at Anfield.

The departing Bournemouth boss, 43, is the leading contender to take the reins at Anfield . Iraola's aggressive front-foot style of playing is a stark contrast to the possession-based side Slot transformed Liverpool into.

The Dutchman usually used a 4-3-3 formation with Iraola preferring a 4-2-3-1 system - or a 4-4-2 structure at times - with the onus of pressing high and winning back possession quickly - a key aspect of Jurgen Klopp's gegenpressing principle.

With Liverpool expected to welcome several new signings this summer, Mirror Football takes a look at the ideal starting XI Iraola would like to begin his Liverpool tenure with next season.

Questions surrounding Alisson Becker's future has been strife but should he stay at Anfield, he'll undoubtedly continue in his role as Liverpool's number one under Iraola. The 33-year-old has been linked with a move to Juventus but is contracted to the Reds until the summer of 2027.

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The Brazilian made just 26 league appearances this season due to injury with Giorgi Mamardashvili and Freddie Woodman deputising in his place. However, when fit, he remains one of the world's leading shot-stoppers and with the exits of Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson, his leadership will be crucial.

Iraola has already been handed work to do before confirmation of his appointment following Ibrahima Konate's exit. The Frenchman leaves a sizeable gap that could be solved with an acquisition in the market but will likely be filled by the incoming Jeremy Jacquet.

A £55million deal to sign the highly-rated Rennes star was agreed in February and he could very well make a swift start to his Liverpool career by starting in Iraola's first game. Should he start, he will of course be lining up alongside Virgil van Dijk.

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The Reds captain will be 35 by the opening game of the season but has reached new heights in his conditioning and fitness after becoming the oldest player in Premier league history to play every minute of the season.

Van Dijk's leadership on and off the pitch will be vitally important in the Reds' transition and aim to return to title contention. The Dutchman's connection with Andy Robertson contributed heavily to their success as he'll need to continue developing his relationship with Milos Kerkez at left-back.

The 22-year-old endured a tough start to his Liverpool career but slowly grew in his role throughout the season. Reuniting with his former Cherries boss can only benefit the Hungary international as he looks to follow in the footsteps of Robertson.

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Question marks on who'll start at right-back in Liverpool's first game of the season remain. Conor Bradley remains out of action with a knee injury, while Jeremie Frimpong has shown to be more suited to an attacking role.

That could lead Iraola to scout the market, with Inter Milan's Denzel Dumfries - who is said to have a £22m release clause - a viable option. The 30-year-old was linked with a move to Anfield under Slot and would provide defensive stability in the role as well as having an eye for a goal, as he netted five in 28 games this season.

According to reports in Italy, the Reds have raised the possibility of acquiring the Dutch international in a swap deal that would see Curtis Jones head in the other direction. The Liverpool midfielder is heading into the final 12 months of his contract and was linked with a move to Milan in January.

Liverpool's lack of presence in midfield this season was considerable and played a major role in their dramatic downturn in form. With Iraola preferring to play two in midfield, Alexis Mac Allister drops out as the Spaniard would prefer the size and work rate that both Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai provide.

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Gravenberch was afforded more license to attack under Slot this year and while he was more productive in scoring goals and providing assists, his lack of defensive responsibility hurt Liverpool at the other end of the pitch.

The Dutchman could be asked to play the role of controller as he did in his first season under Slot, with Szoboszlai remaining the box-to-box machine where he flourishes the most. The 25-year-old admitted his frustration with having to play right-back at times this season, so a more permanent role in the middle of the park would keep him happy.

Iraola's four-pronged attack worked seamlessly at Bournemouth with Liverpool fans hoping he can achieve similar results at Anfield - despite the absence of Mohamed Salah . Replacing the Egyptian icon will prove to be the hardest task for the Spaniard this summer, with Yan Diomande emerging as the top contender for £87m.

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Capable of playing on both wings, the Ivorian will likely be positioned on the right wing with Rio Ngumoha pushing to start ahead of Cody Gakpo on the other flank. The 17-year-old enjoyed a breakout season with the Reds, playing 29 games across all competitions and scoring two goals.

Ngumoha's impressive pace and unpredictability on the ball saw him become more of a threat on the wing than his Dutch team-mate, who struggled heavily as the number one option.

Iraola primarily played Eli Junior Kroupi as the attacking midfielder behind Evanilson, with Florian Wirtz potentially being a huge benefactor of the Spaniard's system. Capable of playing on the left side of attack, the freedom the Bournemouth attackers received could result in the German establishing himself as one of the elite players in the league.

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The opportunity to attack half-spaces, combine with his team-mates in the final third and make late runs into the box could be just what Wirtz needed after a less-than-ideal first season at Anfield.

Hugo Ekitike could very well have locked up a place in Iraola's first game given his ability to press from the front, but with his ACL injury likely to rule him out for the first half of the season , up steps Alexander Isak.

The Swede endured a nightmare debut campaign in Merseyside with just four goals scored in 22 games. His first World Cup beckons this month as he'll hope to return to the heights that led the Reds to fork out a British record fee of £125million last September.

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The 26-year-old may not be the world's greatest at leading the press but his ability in front of goal cannot be understated in a team that will be losing the greatest goal-scoring winger in Premier League history.

Alisson; Dumfries, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Diomande, Wirtz, Ngumoha; Isak

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