When Liverpool’s title defence came apart last season and the side ended up finishing fifth, many felt the team’s dip was down to a lack of intensity in the way they played.

The Reds eventually ended the campaign 25 points behind Premier League champions Arsenal, with Arne Slot paying the price as the club chose to replace him with former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola.

The Spaniard has made his name as a coach through an aggressive, unrelenting approach, and former Liverpool forward Peter Crouch believes supporters at Anfield will take to the new manager very quickly.

Crouch told FourFourTwo, “The pressing that Andoni Iraola demands of his players is off the charts,” before conceding that he himself would probably not have enjoyed playing under the former Spain international.

“That wasn’t my game – I used to quite like pretending to close an opponent down, then when he ran past me, I’d have a little rest!”

While Crouch does not believe he would have been a natural fit for the modern style of pressing from the front, he made it clear that hard running in itself was never a problem for him.

“If it was getting on the end of crosses, I’d run for you all day,” he continued. “But this constant running up and down, closing your marker and bending your run, it makes me tired just watching it.”

Crouch therefore says he has enormous respect for players who are able to handle both sides of that role.

“I have huge admiration for players who can do both, though: press and win the ball high up the pitch, and also get in the box and score goals.”

Liverpool’s best teams in recent years have been built around an intense style, and Crouch feels Iraola could prove a success at Anfield.

“Liverpool fans will take to Iraola’s style,” he added.

“It’s more direct, more all-action, whereas Arne Slot’s play was more pedestrian.”