'Iraola can make that step up no problem' - ex-Bournemouth defender

Former Bournemouth defender Joe Partington believes Andoni Iraola can handle the "intensity and scrutiny" which is part and parcel of the Liverpool head coach role. "I have had the pleasure of watching Andoni Iraola's teams for the past three years at Bournemouth ," Partington told BBC Radio Merseyside. "I remember when Jurgen Klopp was announced by Liverpool, he was the self-proclaimed 'normal one' and Iraola strikes me as someone quite similar. "You don't see him going above and beyond his station in news conferences, and he certainly has a great connection with his players and the fans. He also gets the best out of the people he works with. "That's the reason why Bournemouth have progressed so well while always selling their best players. The club have really benefited off the back of Iraola being their manager, and it is a wonderful place because of him. "Iraola does play with a certain style, so it will take time for his players to learn his ways and buy into that, but he has continually managed to transform good Premier League players into Premier League players the world's best clubs want to take. "He will be going into an environment which is a lot more intense and comes with a lot more scrutiny, but I absolutely think he can handle it. He has never been somebody who is affected by what people are saying. "I hope Liverpool fans warm to him like the Bournemouth fans did because, in my opinion, he can make that step up no problem." Listen to the conversation above or on BBC Sounds here