OneFootball x The Cheap Thrills: No nonsense Iraola is perfect Slot replacement

OneFootball x The Cheap Thrills: No nonsense Iraola is perfect Slot replacement As part of OneFootball's collaboration series with Shoot Music we're interviewing an artist about their love of football. This week it's drummer of Merseyside indie rockers The Cheap Thrills, and Liverpool fan, Anton Eager. When did you start supporting Liverpool and why? I’ve supported Liverpool from the day I was born. I still have my baby version of the 1995 Adidas home kit that my mum and dad kept all these years. I grew up in a Liverpool mad family, listening to stories from my grandad, who held a season ticket for more than 60 years, and my uncles, who followed the Reds around Europe in the 70s and 80s. It could only ever be Liverpool, really. What is your favourite memory of supporting Liverpool as a child? Seeing us win the Champions League in Istanbul in 2005 will forever be ingrained in my memory. I remember all the excitement leading up to it and then being in tears at half time. What happened next showed me the true magic of football and embodied the never give up attitude this city is famous for. A close second would be standing in the Kop that same season and seeing Gerrard score that famous goal against Olympiacos to make it 3-1 and send us through to the knockout stages. A lovely cushioned header. What are your predictions for Liverpool this season? It’s difficult to say at this stage but Liverpool Football Club has to aim high. At the very least, I want us back in the top four, and I’ll be disappointed if we miss out. With a new manager and new players, it may take time for everything to click, but we need to come out strong early doors. There will be pressure on Iraola to get the team playing as a unit quickly. Do you think Andoni Iraola is a good replacement for Arne Slot? I think so. We have a lot to thank Slot for, and winning the league was a massive achievement, but by the end it felt like the right time for a change. He seemed to have lost the backing of a lot of the supporters and, by the sounds of it, some of the players too. Iraola comes across as strict and no nonsense. More importantly, he seems to understand the club and what it means to the people of the city. Hopefully, we won’t see him on the ale in Ibiza halfway through the season either! Which new player do you think will have the biggest impact this season? I think Jérémy Jacquet could have the biggest impact. He’s still young, but he looks composed, confident and physically ready for the Premier League. There will naturally be pressure on him, but if he settles quickly, I think he could become a massive player for us and a real fan favourite. I’m also excited to see how Rio Ngumoha will develop. 'looking' by The Cheap Thrills is out now. Their debut album, 'Keep Cheap', is set for release on Friday 18th September. You can follow the band on Instagram here: @thecheapthrillsss