Four pre-season games offer a limited view, but Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola is already making his mark on the team's style of play. His attacking strategies bear a resemblance to those of his managerial inspiration, Marcelo Bielsa, the former Leeds United boss.
Iraola, who played under Bielsa at Athletic Club from 2011 to 2013, has spoken about the influence of the Argentine coach. "I use a lot of exercises from Marcelo that I learned from him, especially with the ball," Iraola stated in 2023. He also noted, "Offensively, his teams are very dynamic, willing to make all the runs to the space, he is ready to accept this kind of disorder offensively."
Under Iraola, Liverpool is already exhibiting a busy and fluid approach to attacking. Players are not confined to rigid positions, contributing to a dynamic offensive performance. This mirrors Bielsa's tactics, which often involve wide pairings or trios designed to break down opposing defenses.
During his time playing under Bielsa, Iraola observed how full-backs and wingers would combine, with an emphasis on fluid movement rather than static positioning. Bielsa encouraged players to interchange roles, allowing a winger to drift inside to create space for the overlapping full-back, or a midfielder to join the attack and provide an additional passing option. Conversely, a full-back might move inside, freeing the winger to stay high and wide.
Liverpool is demonstrating similar patterns, particularly on the left flank, where full-backs have advanced into the final third to support wingers like Rio Ngumoha or Cody Gakpo. Florian Wirtz, operating as Liverpool's number 10, has also drifted to this side, offering versatility as a passing option whether positioned centrally, deeper, or out wide.
These rotating wide triangles make it difficult for opponents to track individual players. By simplifying attacking scenarios into two-on-two or three-on-three situations, Liverpool aims to create a repeatable and dynamic attacking solution, leading to crosses from dangerous areas.