Andoni Iraola was named as Liverpool’s head coach before the club’s 2026–27 Premier League opener at Newcastle United.
Liverpool’s opening-round fixture was scheduled for Sunday 23 August 2026 at St James’ Park. It was Iraola’s first match in charge of Liverpool, making the appointment an important storyline attached to the opening weekend.
Iraola had previously managed AFC Bournemouth before moving to Liverpool. His appointment also meant that the Newcastle match introduced a new managerial era for the club. Liverpool’s previous manager, Arne Slot, was no longer in the role by the start of the campaign.
The opposing dugout also changed: Newcastle appointed Matthias Jaissle after Eddie Howe’s departure. That makes it important to distinguish Iraola, Liverpool’s manager, from Jaissle, Newcastle’s manager, when discussing the match.