Heskey warns Iraola of 'immense' Liverpool pressure as Shearer tips £160m Bournemouth double raid

Emile Heskey has warned Andoni Iraola that managing Liverpool carries an “immense” weight of expectation that will dwarf anything the Spaniard encountered during his time at Bournemouth, as Alan Shearer tips the club to spend £160m raiding the Cherries for teenage forward Eli Kroupi and midfielder Alex Scott.

Iraola was appointed Liverpool head coach earlier this month on a two-year contract after guiding Bournemouth to a sixth-place Premier League finish. The 43-year-old Basque coach arrives at Anfield with a reputation for aggressive, front-foot football — a style Heskey believes will appeal to the Anfield faithful.

However, the former Liverpool striker, who made 223 appearances for the club between 2000 and 2004, offered a pointed reminder of the unique demands that come with the job. “The only thing is he hasn’t done it at a club like Liverpool, where the pressure is immense,” Heskey said. “There’s no win, lose, or draw; you just have to win. It’s going to be very tough for Iraola.”

Heskey praised the early signs from the new head coach but stressed that winning over the squad will be equally critical. “One thing you have to do is get the dressing room on your side,” he added. “If you haven’t got the players backing you, it’s very tough, as we saw with Slot.”

On the pitch, Heskey acknowledged the appeal of Iraola’s stated philosophy. “It’s aggressive football. It’s on the front foot. It’s what Liverpool fans have been so used to over the years — rock and roll football. He’s spoken about that, but I’m hoping he can be tactical and get the players on his side.”

Off the pitch, Liverpool are already being linked with significant summer investment. Alan Shearer has predicted the club could mount a £160m double swoop on Iraola’s former employers, with 19-year-old French forward Eli Kroupi valued at around £80m and 23-year-old midfielder Alex Scott carrying a similarly hefty price tag. Shearer said he would not be surprised to see both players move to Merseyside before the start of next season.