Andoni Iraola has solved Liverpool problem Arne Slot ignored and fans are delighted
Ahead of Andoni Iraola's tenth match in charge of Liverpool, how is everyone feeling? The Reds are currently ninth in the Premier League table, which is far from ideal, but last weekend against Manchester City was the Basque head coach's first defeat since arriving on Merseyside.
Wednesday's 6-3 demolition of LASK in the Champions League then made it two wins out of two in Europe and, ahead of Saturday's tricky trip to Brentford, supporters are generally feeling optimistic. Despite delivering the Premier League title in his first season, there was widespread ridicule of Arne Slot by the time of his departure, something that will be forgotten in the midst of time.
However, there was one valid criticism of Slot's Anfield tenure that his successor has certainly addressed straight away. As noted by journalist James Wathland, academy graduates have racked up more than 900 minutes already this season. In contrast, this figure was just 1,400 throughout the entirety of last season. Of those, the vast majority were eaten up by the currently sidelined Conor Bradley.
Liverpool academy graduates minutes 2026/27
Rio Ngumoha: 332.
Lewis Koumas: 275.
Trey Nyoni: 209.
James McConnell: 62.
Luke Chambers: 5.
There are of course reasons behind this. Koumas has started against Manchester City and LASK due to the fact that both Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo returned from international duty with injuries. The Welsh international marked the occasion with his first goal for the club.
Meantime, teenagers Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni are both a year older, and who is to say they would not have held an equally as important role, had Slot remained in charge. Nevertheless, what is a fact is that the starting lineup Iraola named at Raiffeisen Arena in mid-week was Liverpool's third youngest in a Champions League game, with an average age of 24 years and 186 days.
They have only named youngster XIs in Europe's top-tier competition under Gérard Houllier against Borussia Dortmund in 2001 and Midtjylland in December 2020, the latter a behind-closed-doors dead rubber.
Liverpool fans praising Iraola for use of academy stars
Well, with Dominik Szoboszlai a doubt and Ryan Gravenberch suspended, Nyoni is set to start a Premier League match for the first time against Brentford on Saturday. At least one of Ngumoha and Koumas, potentially both, will also be in attack, giving this Liverpool side a fresh, younger feel about it.
Iraola's team may not be quite ready to compete for the biggest trophies just yet, but he is building towards a bright future.
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