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Alexis Mac Allister claims Liverpool 'was not right' before Andoni Iraola impact

Alexis Mac Allister has admitted that things weren't right at Liverpool last season, but has credited Andoni Iraola with changing the dressing room culture since taking charge in the summer.

Alexis Mac Allister is enjoying working under Andoni Iraola
Alexis Mac Allister is enjoying working under Andoni Iraola

Alexis Mac Allister has revealed that matters weren't entirely satisfactory at Liverpool before Andoni Iraola took charge in the summer.

Iraola joined from Bournemouth in June, succeeding Arne Slot as the Reds' head coach in preparation for the new campaign. This followed the Dutchman's dismissal at the conclusion of a disappointing 2025/26 season, during which Liverpool failed to retain its title and secured fifth place in the league.

Following an inconsistent start to the season, Iraola's players have secured five victories in their previous six fixtures across all competitions, with their latest triumph coming in the Champions League against Villarreal on Tuesday.

The improvement in results since the Spaniard's appointment seems attributable to multiple factors, which demonstrate a markedly different methodology from that of his predecessor, Slot.

Notably, it took only weeks for the squad to identify significant differences between the two managers' approaches.

The Athletic reported that players were impressed by team meetings that are now considerably shorter and more focused than they were during the two years under Slot.

Liverpool struggled under Arne Slot last season
Liverpool struggled under Arne Slot last season

Iraola reportedly favors communicating his tactical guidance directly on the training ground rather than in a classroom environment.

Moreover, most of Iraola's communication with the squad takes place during training. The coach is understood to maintain a more professional boundary with his players beyond the training ground, seldom engaging in personal discussions unrelated to soccer.

Liverpool's U21 head coach, Rob Page, publicly remarked that Iraola put his "stamp on it straight away," noting how there was a noticeable increase in the physical demands of the team's training sessions.

After Tuesday's Champions League triumph, midfielder Mac Allister reinforced the notion that Iraola has implemented positive changes.

The Argentine, who netted twice on the evening, acknowledged that something had been amiss in the dressing room under Slot during the previous campaign, declining to specify precisely what but praising the new boss for the transformation.

He told presenter Gabby Logan: "Last season, something wasn't right in the group and this manager changed it, and that's really important. The way we play is quite different. I don't like to compare, but I am really enjoying it.

"From the first day, I started seeing something. He's a nice guy, and the coaching staff is too. We are going in the right direction, but we need to work and put in everything. Hopefully, we can win some trophies."

Mac Allister particularly underwhelmed during the previous season but has been in excellent form under Iraola, finding the net four times across all competitions.

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