For the second time in two years, Liverpool fans are gearing up for a new era and a new manager looking to make the club a reliable force to be reckoned with in the Premier League.
Andoni Iraola has been given the responsibility of taking the Reds to the next level in the 2026/27 season after being handed his marching orders by Arne Slott in May.
The Spaniard joins after leading Bournemouth to European football for the first time and has highlighted his outstanding ability to get the most out of the players at his disposal.
There’s no denying that the Reds fell short of expectations last season, especially after winning the Premier League title under Slott’s leadership less than a year before his departure.
But if Iraola wants to avoid a similar fate at Anfield next season, he may need to trust one of his senior squad to provide supplies on Merseyside.
Why Iraola is the perfect fit for Liverpool’s Ngmoha
Despite Slott’s struggles as Liverpool manager last season, winger Rio Ngmoha emerged as a shining light and a key senior member of the team, despite being only 17 years old.
The teenager made 19 appearances in the top flight and also scored two goals. That included his iconic last-minute winning goal against Newcastle United in August.
However, supporters often complained about the former manager as he often left English players on the bench and chose to start players such as Kodi Gakpo ahead of him.
Iraola’s arrival could be a blessing in disguise for Ngmoha in the 2026/27 season. The Spanish manager has shown great faith in young talent at Bournemouth.
Last season’s Cherries team had an average age of just 25.1 years, making them the fifth-youngest team in the division, allowing the likes of Eli Crupi Jr. and Ryan to make breakthroughs.
Most PL minutes played by U18 talents (2025/26) | |
|---|---|
player | tally |
Matthew Main | 1795 |
Ngumoha River | 560 |
Max Dauman | 157 |
harry howell | 94 |
Jinmu Kasa | 27 |
Bendito Mantato | 16 |
Joel Drakes-Thomas | 9 |
Shumaila Muuka | 2 |
The Liverpool teenager could be the next player to take his career to the next level under Iraola’s tutelage, especially if he can emulate last term’s success.
His selection in England’s squad ahead of the World Cup is testament to his talent, but he will need to find his feet and continue on his current trajectory to become an elite attacking option.
Liverpool could sign the perfect rival for Ngmoha
Liverpool have become known for their attacking prowess in recent years, with their attacking trio of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane arguably one of the best partnerships in Premier League history.
But with the Egyptian’s departure from Anfield this summer, all the talent has moved on to pastures new, leaving Iraola with the task of building his own iconic front three.
Víctor Muñoz has already confirmed his move to Anfield in recent months, but Bradley Barcora could join before the end of the ongoing transfer window.
TEAMtalk reports that Liverpool have entered into new negotiations with PSG over the possibility of securing a transfer for the French winger during the summer.
Their report also claims the 23-year-old is open to a move to Anfield this summer, with the attacker having struggled to get a consistent start under manager Luis Enrique.
However, any deal is likely to cost the Reds a significant amount of money over this period, as the Ligue 1 side are said to be asking for at least £128m to sell the forward during this period.
Securing Barcola’s services would likely require huge amounts of money, but this is a move that could secure Iraola’s men as an elite-level left wing for the foreseeable future.
He is already on a better path to development than Ngmoha, and the Frenchman’s statistics from last season highlight why he is more exciting than the Liverpool teenager.
Barcora finished the most recent season with a total of 21 goals and assists, 18 more than any of the Reds’ young players, while also setting a record for minutes contributed per goal.
The aforementioned numbers make him an immediate option for Iraola next season as he looks to make an immediate impact at Anfield following his summer appointment.
As for the PSG star, he has even faster speeds than Ngmoha, with a top speed of 36.72km/h in last season’s Champions League, making him one of the top five fastest sprints ever recorded by a player in the competition.
He also added the final product to his incredible run, scoring more successful dribbles per 90 points than any other teenager throughout the 2025/26 season, demonstrating his ability to breeze past opponents with his blistering speed.
Although France were eliminated from the World Cup last night, Barcola’s two goals and one assist record contributed greatly to France’s ability to advance to the final stages of the tournament.
Ngmoha has been left out of Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the United States in recent months and has been unable to replicate those numbers.
There’s little denying that Ngmoha’s sky is the limit, but at the moment Barkola is a player who already has the ability to make an immediate impact on Merseyside.
There’s no reason why the Englishman won’t learn to trade for the Frenchman next season, but he may have to play as a second-string again if a £100m deal is agreed for the current PSG star.
