The Andoni Iraola reign kicks off properly this afternoon as Liverpool begin their Premier League campaign away at Newcastle United.
A new campaign brings fresh hope? The beginning of a season is traditionally when fans openly hold onto their aspirations for the 10 months ahead.
However, events throughout a turbulent summer have given even the most devoted Liverpool supporter reason to approach another Premier League season with considerable wariness.
While there was positivity about a fresh start under new head coach Iraola following the difficult second season of the subsequently dismissed Arne Slot, that optimism has faded somewhat given developments in the transfer market.
An already thin squad saw the experience of Salah, Robertson and Konate depart for free before Jones moved to Inter Milan on Friday in a transfer that could eventually bring Liverpool £30million.
Concern has been worsened by the inconsistent hunt for replacements. Jeremy Jacquet and the loanee Ronald Araujo have arrived to strengthen the defence while Victor Munoz ensures at least one new face in attack.
The trio, though, had minimal playing time during pre-season. And while Jacquet excited the Anfield supporters with his 45-minute display in the final friendly versus Como last weekend, all three are yet to feature in the Premier League, adding to the uncertainty that, while sometimes worth embracing, is this time generating nervousness among supporters.
Then there is the continuing inability to fill the void left by Salah’s departure, which had been known since late March. Liverpool appear unlikely to go without signing a new right winger before the September 1 deadline – they continue negotiations with Brighton regarding Yankuba Minteh – but the optics have not reflected well on sporting director Richard Hughes, who in any case is widely anticipated to be nearing the end of his tenure.
The shortage of options in attack has undoubtedly limited Iraola’s efforts to embed his methods into playing staff the head coach openly acknowledges is lacking in key areas.
The sale of Jones also raises questions about the squad’s make-up as Liverpool now find themselves without any senior local players for the first time in living memory while they have reached the maximum number of non-homegrown players they can register.
While time remains for the club to address this over the next nine days, it means Iraola begins the new season at Newcastle United this afternoon at a slight disadvantage.
One player familiar with the Basque’s methods, of course, is Milos Kerkez, who spent two years working under the Liverpool head coach during his time at Bournemouth before moving to Anfield last summer.
The Hungary international is well placed to evaluate the impact Iraola has already had and the progress that has continued throughout pre-season.
The approach is completely different in terms of pressing high and playing on the front foot, Kerkez stated when contrasting it with Slot’s methods last season. We want to dominate possession, so we need to press quickly, win the ball back fast from opponents and then simply play and keep the ball.
I think we have improved significantly at adapting to Iraola’s methods. Obviously it’s a new coach, a new philosophy, you need time.
Fortunately we have had him since the start of pre-season, so that was beneficial for the players and they had more time. I would say the last two weeks against Monaco and then against Como showed further improvement. I hope against Newcastle we will be even better and prepared.
It is set to be an emotional occasion at St James’ Park with both sets of fans uniting before kick-off to honour Kevin Keegan, who passed away last month.
Emotions will certainly run high from Newcastle supporters towards Alexander Isak, with the striker making his first appearance at his former club since his controversial £125million switch to Anfield last September.
Iraola has few genuine selection dilemmas, with his main decision being which of Jacquet and Araujo partners captain Virgil van Dijk at centre-back. Rio Ngumoha, who won the match in this fixture last season, is expected to start on the right flank.
Newcastle have had an even more difficult summer than Liverpool, with the departure of key players including Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes, alongside a change in management with Eddie Howe succeeded by Matthias Jaissle. Indeed, this afternoon marks the first of six consecutive Premier League matches in which Liverpool face opponents with new managers.
Obviously we need to concentrate more on ourselves because it’s new for the players with the new manager and everything, Kerkez continued.
I understand how the manager operates, what he expects, but the players need time and I think now we just need to focus on ourselves. Because if we do that, playing how he wants us to play, we are genuinely very dangerous.