Jamie Redknapp has suggested player power had a role in Arne Slot's sacking by Liverpool, but has backed Andoni Iraola to handle the pressure of replacing the Dutchman.
Slot was axed only a year after leading the Reds to their 20th league title, following a disappointing fifth-placed finish in his second season in charge.
Former Bournemouth boss Iraola, who led the Cherries to sixth in the Premier League and their first European campaign, is the frontunner to replace Slot, Sky Sports News understands.
Iraola announced in May he would be leaving the Vitality Stadium, and has been linked with Crystal Palace, AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen.
However, the 43-year-old now appears to be the favourite to take over in the Anfield hotseat and Redknapp has backed the Spaniard to handle the transition of moving to a club the size of Liverpool.
"I love the man [Iraola]. I never thought what Eddie Howe did [at Bournemouth] could be eclipsed, but he's done that," Redknapp told Sky Sports.
"The style of football is amazing - they play high pressure, they get after teams, which is exactly what Liverpool fans want.
"They want to see people with high energy, whether that fits the Liverpool mould, because they'll play man for man a lot. That style of play in midfield is really high energy - whether (Alexander) Wirtz fits into that, it'll be fascinating to see. Everybody is going to have to run in that team.
"There's talk that he doesn't like to talk to his players too much - if you're not in the team, he doesn't want to talk to you.
"That won't appeal to a lot of the players, but, in this day and age, a lot of players go straight to the chairman or the director of football anyway.
"But he sets his stall out early - if you're in the team, he tells you a couple of hours beforehand.
"What will be the question now, going from Bournemouth to Liverpool, is how do you handle that transition? I don't see it as a problem for him.
"As long as he gets the right players he needs... you can see he's made so many players at Bournemouth go from okay players to fantastic players, that look fit for the bill.
"I've got no problems with if he can handle it. He was a great player and is now an elite manager. If it is to be him, I have no doubt."
'Players have played a big part in Slot sacking'
The second half of Slot's tenure was marred by speculation regarding his relationship with star man Mohamed Salah, who claimed the Dutchman "threw him under the bus" during Liverpool's poor run of form at the start of the 2025/26 season.
Redknapp, who admitted to being disappointed for the outgoing Liverpool boss, claimed other members of the Liverpool squad may have had a part to play in the decision to remove the 47-year-old from his post.
"I feel disappointed for Arne Slot, he's done a great job. The fact he won the Premier League was an incredible achievement," said Redknapp.
"This year, there were a lot of circumstances that made it difficult to coach that team.
"He will feel hard done by, but this is football - this is the price on the ticket.
"I hope Liverpool don't go down that route of hiring and firing - we've seen that at Man Utd, and it hasn't always had the desired effect. Sometimes you have to stay with what you've got.
"Players will have played a big part in this as well. A bit of player power, speaking to the owners, speaking to the people in charge and they will have said their piece - they're not really enjoying the football, maybe feeling Slot isn't the guy to take them forward.
"You have to be very careful listening to the players too much because a lot of them have their own motives at heart and they're not thinking about what's best for the team.
"But we've got to this point now and it's a case of 'okay, what happens next?'."
Merson: Slot deserved another year; Iraola will have to adjust
Sky Sports' Paul Merson on Liverpool's decision to sack Slot:
"I'm quite shocked, especially because Xabi Alonso has gone to Chelsea, which made me think that Arne Slot was staying for another six months at least.
"But now he's out and I find that strange.
"I thought he should have got another year for what he did in his first season. Not too many teams have gone back to back in the Premier League and he's got them back into the Champions League.
"I thought it was a little bit harsh but the fans up there were not happy and you have to keep them happy.
"I'm a massive fan of Andoni Iroala. But he was the manager of Bournemouth, where if you lose a game it doesn't matter.
"I don't mean that disrespectfully, but at Liverpool it is win, win, win. He will have to get used to that. But to take Bournemouth on a 19-game unbeaten run in the Premier League is amazing. Liverpool will be hoping he can bring that magic to Anfield."
Iraola on a two-man shortlist, but is Enrique the other target?
Sky Sports News' Mark McAdam:
"The brand of football clearly is one of the big factors. The shortlist to replace Arne Slot I believe has two names. One is Iraola.
"If you speak to any Bournemouth fan about the style of football after the last three seasons under Andoni Iraola, they will wax lyrical about the way Bournemouth go about their business. High intensity, front-footed. They play with a real zest and an ability to get the ball forward.
"They use width, are very dynamic on the ball and win it high up the pitch. They really take the game to the opposition. It's that type of heavy-metal brand of football. Exactly the same style under Jurgen Klopp. It wasn't about keeping the ball, it was about being exciting.
"At this stage, we know Liverpool haven't officially spoken to any candidates, but we know Andoni Iraola is one of those that the players would like to speak to.
"Champions League day. Luis Enrique at PSG. Three league titles on the spin, could win back-to-back Champions Leagues. Would that be the perfect opportunity to say goodbye to Paris? We do know he has one year left on his contract.
"I do find it fascinating that Liverpool have sacked Arne Slot today. In the next 24 hours there could be some significant changes at PSG. Who knows? We know there are two names on Liverpool's shortlist. Andoni Iraola's one. Who is the other one? I just find it really intriguing that the announcement comes on a day like today."
Analysis: Iraola's style would appeal to fans
Sky Sports News' Vinny O'Connor on interest in Andoni Iraola:
"It seems to be a decision taken on footballing reasons in terms of the style of play.
"We heard from Mohamed Salah not so long ago in a social media post that he put out. Well, it seems that that is a feeling within Liverpool, that it's a style of play issue.
"The belief is that a different profile of head coach is needed to bring out what Liverpool fans would appreciate more as their style of play, the kind of football that we saw under Jurgen Klopp.
"There are all kinds of tie-ins with Richard Hughes being at Liverpool.
"We broke the news the other day that Iraola would like to hold out for the Liverpool job. He's been linked with numerous jobs already since that announcement that he was leaving Bournemouth.
"It's a name that Liverpool fans mention. I would argue it's a big jump going from manager of Bournemouth to Liverpool, certainly even bigger than going from Feyenoord to Liverpool, but at the same time, the style of play is something that Liverpool fans would definitely relate to.
"I think everyone's been impressed by what he's done at Bournemouth and the style of play that he's been able to implement there.
"In terms of that and emotionally as well, I think he would get Liverpool fans, Liverpool fans would get him.
"I think it's pretty easy to put him at the top of the list at the moment but I would imagine as well that Liverpool are going through a pretty thorough process at the same time."
