Carragher unsure Iraola is the right man for Liverpool, preferred Alonso as Slot’s successor

Jamie Carragher is worried about the prospect of Andoni Iraola succeeding Arne Slot at Liverpool, saying he would rather have appointed Chelsea-bound Xabi Alonso.

Slot was sacked by Liverpool just over a year after delivering their 20th English top-flight title, and their second in the Premier League era, last week.

He oversaw a dismal title defence in 2025-26 despite a £450m spending spree that saw the Reds bring in Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez.

After collecting 84 points in their title-winning 2024-25 season, Liverpool picked up only 60 in 2025-26, with their 24-point drop the largest recorded by any ever-present Premier League team across the last two seasons.

Former Reds midfielder Alonso, who was sacked by Real Madrid in January, was long touted as a future head coach at Anfield, but he will take charge of Chelsea on July 1.

And reports now suggest Liverpool are close to agreeing terms with another Spaniard, Iraola, following his departure from Bournemouth.

But Carragher is unsure whether the Reds have the right players to implement Iraola's high-octane style of play.

"If Liverpool chose Iraola over Alonso, it is very worrying for Liverpool," Carragher said on The Overlap. 

"If it is because Alonso wants to play a back three, or his style of play, fair enough. But I am not sure Liverpool have the players to play Iraola's high-pressing game."

 ANDONI IRAOLA: THE FINAL INTERVIEW 

One final look back at three unforgettable years.

Andoni watches his best moments and shares an emotional farewell message to the #afcb fans.

This is one you don’t want to miss.

Watch the full video now on YouTube 

— AFC Bournemouth  (@afcbournemouth) May 27, 2026

Last season, Bournemouth forced 298 high turnovers in the Premier League, the third-most behind Manchester City (333) and Brighton (332), while Liverpool ranked fifth with 285.

Iraola's Cherries also ranked third for shots from high turnovers (57), with Liverpool also fifth by that metric (52), though the Reds scored the most goals from such scenarios (10).

Carragher also noted that Alonso got the best out of Wirtz while at Bayer Leverkusen – the Germany international recorded 37 goal involvements in all competitions as the Werkself won a domestic double under the Spaniard in 2023-24 (18 goals, 19 assists).

"I would have changed him [Slot] for Xabi Alonso. As soon as he went to Chelsea, I was thinking that I would keep Slot," Carragher added. 

"When I was thinking about Alonso, it was also because he got the best out of Florian Wirtz. If you were going to change it, why was it not for Alonso? 

"With Alonso, you have an incredible playing CV, the managers he has been coached by, what he did at Leverkusen.

"He has managed Real Madrid. I know it didn't go well, but he is used to that pressure and scrutiny."