Andoni Iraola aiming to fix Liverpool’s set-piece woes with backroom team

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, July 25, 2026

Andoni Iraola has appointed a coaching team at Liverpool, including trusted colleagues from his previous roles, to help improve the club’s set-piece performance and bridge cultural gaps with players. Addressing Liverpool’s defensive vulnerabilities from set plays is a primary focus as they prepare for their first game under Iraola’s leadership in an upcoming preseason match.

Andoni Iraola, the newly appointed head coach of Liverpool, has highlighted the key roles his backroom staff will play as he begins his tenure at Anfield, with a particular focus on improving the team’s set-piece performance. Since taking over from Arne Slot last month, Iraola has brought several members of his coaching team from Bournemouth to Liverpool, including assistant coach Pablo de la Torre and first-team coaches Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper. Alejandro Rosalen has also joined as Liverpool’s first-team goalkeeping coach, arriving from Napoli.

Iraola emphasized the importance of having trusted colleagues with him as he adjusts to his new position in one of England’s biggest football clubs. He has worked closely with de la Torre in previous roles at AEK Larnaca and Rayo Vallecano, and values the familiarity and mutual understanding they share. “For me, it was important they came with me,” Iraola said, noting that de la Torre, while officially a physical coach, functions as an assistant and confidant.

The inclusion of Elphick and Cooper aims to bridge any cultural and generational gaps between Iraola and Liverpool’s players. Both former professional players with significant experience in English football, they are seen as figures who can relate closely to the squad’s mindset and preferences. Iraola pointed out that Elphick, who has played in the Premier League with Bournemouth and has experience at Aston Villa, Brighton, and Huddersfield, along with Cooper, help the coaching staff understand the English football culture and player mentality. “They can be in a closer position to the players... Some of the players maybe didn’t know I was a player,” Iraola remarked.

One of the foremost challenges facing Iraola and his staff is addressing Liverpool’s recent struggles with defending and capitalizing on set pieces. The club conceded 23 goals from set plays last season, a figure surpassed only by Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, and Leeds United in the Premier League. To tackle this issue, the coaching roles have been delineated strategically: Elphick focuses on defensive set pieces, Cooper leads the offensive set-piece initiatives, and they work closely with the set-piece analyst, Lewis Mahoney, who was credited with positive contributions toward the end of last season.

Liverpool will play their first game under Iraola’s leadership in a preseason friendly against Sunderland in Nashville. The new coach and his staff face the immediate task of integrating into the squad ahead of the upcoming season, with particular emphasis on enhancing the team’s performance in critical match situations like set pieces.

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