Exclusive: Danny Murphy outlines what Liverpool must do for Iraola’s first season to be a success
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Danny Murphy has outlined what he believes would represent a successful season for Liverpool under new head coach Andoni Iraola in 2026/27.A miserable 2025/26 campaign saw Arne Slot lose his job a year on from winning the Premier League title, with the Reds slumping to a fifth-place finish, just one position and three points ahead of a Bournemouth side led by his successor in the Anfield dugout.DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL EMPIRE OF THE KOP APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAYThere were quarter-final exits from the Champions League and FA Cup, and we were out of the Carabao Cup in the fourth round, with LFC nowhere near lifting a trophy after they lost the Community Shield on penalties to Crystal Palace.Murphy outlines what’d be success for Liverpool in 2026/27In an exclusive interview with Empire of the Kop (in association with NetBet Sport), Murphy was asked what’d constitute success for Iraola in his first season in charge at Liverpool.The former Reds midfielder replied: “My feeling is that at Liverpool Football Club, irrelevant of where you’re at transition-wise with a manager or squad, silverware is always the aim.
That’s what Liverpool is about, winning trophies – always has been, always will be.“In terms of the league, I would suggest a comfortable, consistent top-four placing as the season goes through and that there’s never a horrendous run or a fall outside of that, to be around second, third or fourth. I think that’d be a surprise to most.“I know Slot did it, which none of us expected, but to have a consistent top-four season where you’re never really out of that and you don’t have any horrendous runs – you’re gonna lose games, but a couple of runs Liverpool went on this season were really poor – and then to win some silverware.
That’d probably be one of the domestic cups, unlikely to be the Champions League, but that should be the aim, silverware and a comfortable top-four finish.“I think the fans would be really happy with that, and also the progression of style. I think Liverpool fans would accept third, fourth or fifth if they’re closer to the top and playing football that they enjoy, and they can see what he’s trying to do.