Sunderland star reveals tactical fix Andoni Iraola has made to Liverpool after one game

Liverpool are already proving to be a different beast after one pre-season game under Andoni Iraola.

The Reds played their first game under their new boss in a 4-2 victory over Premier League rivals Sunderland on their tour of the USA.

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And Black Cats defender Dan Ballard has admitted the Reds are a different prospect to facing Arne Slot’s side last season.

The two teams played out a 1-1 draw at Anfield last December, with a late Nordi Mukiele own-goal rescuing a point for the home side.

Liverpool then became the first team to win away at the Stadium of Light in the Premier League in February after a Virgil van Dijk second-half header edged a 1-0 win.

However, the margin of victory was far greater in the US, with goals from Kieran Morrison, Dominik Szoboszlai, Federico Chiesa and Lewis Koumas seeing the Reds triumph 4-2.

While the match was only a friendly, Sunderland’s Ballard revealed he has already felt the differences between Iraola’s and Slot’s football.

What has changed for Liverpool?

“I think there’s a lot of differences,” The 26-year-old told reporters post-match.

“The new gaffer sets the team up in the press very different and he’s very intense the way he wants his teams to play. 

“We did a lot of work looking at Bournemouth’s team last year, and they’re very aggressive in the press.

“They play very vertically, and they go straight for goal, which is a little bit different to Slot’s team, a little bit more possession-based.

“They gave us a little bit more time on the ball last year, which we were quite surprised at playing Liverpool, knowing them throughout the years.”

Former Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah had previously hinted at the players not being enamoured with Slot’s tactics last season.

The Egyptian, who is now a free agent after leaving the club, issued a written statement on social media, appearing to take aim at Slot.

Salah insisted the club should return to their ‘heavy metal tactics’, a reference to Jurgen Klopp’s style of play in his early Anfield years.

Liverpool seemingly agreed by announcing their decision to sack Slot weeks later after concluding that ‘the team’s trajectory is best addressed through a change of direction.’

Iraola’s front-footed football that proved popular at Bournemouth was quickly identified for the next era at Anfield.

Speaking after his first unofficial win as Liverpool boss, the Spaniard said: “It was difficult to put rhythm into the game.

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“I think both teams were lacking some freshness and it was also humid. The pitch was quite slow.

“We had some good spells on the ball. I think we lacked a little bit of intensity. You can feel the timing is still not there.

“We have to work a lot more, but it’s a starting point.”

On his team going after the game to try to win in the second half, Iraola added: “It was a matter of using the game to push ourselves and to go back to the rhythm that we should have.

“You play 45, 60 [or] whatever the minutes you play, use them properly.

“It doesn’t matter the result, but keep pushing, don’t relax, get used to not playing too comfortable. We still have a lot of things to improve.”