Andoni Iraola's first four Liverpool games confirmed as familiar opponents await | OneFootball

Spaniard has signed a two-year deal at Anfield, succeeding Arne Slot at the helm

Liverpool moved swiftly to appoint Iraola, just days after parting company with Arne Slot as the Spaniard has signed a two-year contract at Anfield.

As such, the plan is for Iraola to take charge of the Reds for the very first time during pre-season and his ‘unofficial’ debut will be against a familiar opponent in Sunderland.

Currently, Liverpool are scheduled to face Sunderland on July 25 at Geodis Park in Nashville, Tennessee as part of the club’s summer tour of the United States.

The Reds then take on Wrexham in New York City four days later before concluding their USA trip against another fellow Premier League club, Leeds, in Chicago on August 2.

Iraola will make his Anfield debut as Liverpool head coach against Monaco on August 9, with the final pre-season fixture at home to Cesc Fabregas’ Como the following weekend.

Liverpool will discover their first opponents for the new Premier League season when the fixtures are released on June 19, with eyes on when Iraola is reunited with former club Bournemouth.

New home: Andoni Iraola

Getty

“I’ve been the other side – I still remember the goal [Federico] Chiesa scored at the end of the first game of the season!,” Iraola said of his Anfield experiences.

“We were there with 2-2 thinking that probably we could take something. He scored and the place erupted. It was crazy, no? I want now to feel this from the other side.

“At the beginning when you arrive at any club, I think you need to kind of prove a little bit yourself. You need to earn the right also to belong. I want to do this as quickly as possible so I can also celebrate with them and I can be part properly of those celebrations.

“For me, football is about emotions. About passion.

“I’m quite cool-headed probably, during my life quite rational, I would say. But it’s true that when the game starts, when you have to celebrate a goal, something is inside, no?

“I think this inner energy, you need it as a player, you need it as a supporter, you need it as a coach. No better place than Anfield.”