Alan Shearer Exclusive: Slot sacking was surprising but Iraola deserves his chance at Liverpool

The timing of Slot's sacking was a surprise 

I was a tad surprised that Arne Slot was sacked on Saturday. I don't know whether something happened in the week after the season, whether they had been thinking about the decision for a while, or whether they'd been speaking to other candidates and wanted to get everything ready so that if they did sack him they were ready to go again. 

I thought if it was going to happen, it would have happened a day or two after the season finished. But they've made the decision.

It's not a huge surprise in terms of the performance that Liverpool put up this season. The noises coming out previously were that he was going to start next season and be given the chance to rebuild. 

But they've made the decision and it looks as if Iraola is the man they want. By all reports and all accounts, he's the one who will be coming in, and it's probably just a matter of time before that's announced.

Iraola deserves his shot at Liverpool

Judging by Iraola's performance at Bournemouth, it looks a good appointment by Liverpool. But the Spaniard is going a million miles up from Bournemouth to Liverpool in terms of the size of the football club. Liverpool is one of, if not the biggest, club in the world in terms of scrutiny, how you have to play, and what you have to achieve.

That's always a gamble for someone who has not managed at that level. But he also has to be backed, and he deserves the opportunity because he's been absolutely outstanding at Bournemouth. Their recruitment has been on another level, and their performances, particularly this season, but other seasons too, have been absolutely superb.  It'll be fascinating to see how he gets on. I'm not surprised they've chosen him.

In terms of how Liverpool fans want their team to play, and how they want to be represented, I certainly understand the impending appointment. It makes sense based on how he set his team up at Bournemouth, how he wants his team to attack, score, press, and all those things you associate with Liverpool. 

You know walking into a huge football club like Liverpool that you're going to be judged on winning trophies. We've seen Arne Slot winning the league last year, then not winning it this year but qualifying for the Champions League.  

Whoever goes into Liverpool, or any big football club, has to win trophies, and the biggest trophies. 

Does Iraola deserve an opportunity at a bigger club? Absolutely. It'll be fascinating to see how it goes, but I'm really pleased for him because the job he's done at Bournemouth has been incredible.

Kroupi Jr and Alex Scott will attract big clubs

I can see Bournemouth players following Iraola to Liverpool. I totally understand why bigger clubs will be looking at their players because of their outstanding performances, particularly last season, although Bournemouth fans will hate to hear this. 

We've said it many times and we'll say it again: their recruitment at Bournemouth has been off the charts, so it is no surprise some of their players are being linked with big football clubs. That's a great credit to them for the job they've done in getting those players there. 

I said months ago that the two players I would pick out of that team would be Kroupi Jr. and Alex Scott. They've been outstanding this season, so it wouldn't be a surprise if they were to go this summer.

Rashford's salary is too much for Newcastle

I'd be surprised if Marcus Rashford was an option for Newcastle, because of the salary. Without knowing too much, we all have a bit of an idea of what his salary is. 

What Barcelona have done with signing Anthony Gordon is allow themselves to go back to Manchester United on Rashford and say: "This is what we want, this is what we're prepared to offer you. Either take it or leave it because we've got someone in backup if you don't accept it."

Only Manchester United can answer how much they're prepared to take or accept. There's no doubt the talent is there with Rashford. My guess, though, would be that the salary would rule him out of Newcastle.

Remarkable Milner was manager's dream

James Milner has had a remarkable career. When you think about the teams he represented, he didn't only represent them on the pitch but also off it in terms of his professionalism and what he's achieved in the game for so long.

Professional football takes it out of your body, but he was the ultimate professional. He was a manager's dream, and he had an incredible career.

He was the last man standing in terms of players I played with who were still playing, so that's it, all finished now! But he's gone out on a great note. He's got the record number of appearances, and that'll stand for a long, long time, if it's ever beaten.

For someone to be in the game that amount of time and be playing at the highest level is an incredible achievement. He's been absolutely superb. He deserves a rest.

I don't know his plans in terms of what he's been doing coaching badge-wise, or whether he just wants to step away from the game, take up punditry, or go into management.  

When you've played for that long, you've got that many contacts, and you understand the game like he did, having been that great of a professional, it would be pretty sad if he were to walk away from the game completely.

I'm sure he could offer the game something, whether that's in coaching or at youth level, but I don't know what his aims or ambitions are now.

Sir Kenny Dalglish and Kevin Keegan are superb men and I wish them speedy recoveries

Both Sir Kenny Dalglish and Kevin Keegan had incredible careers, and I was lucky enough to work with both of them. Kenny, first of all, from '92 to '96 at Blackburn. I became a great friend of his, and he was unbelievable. And obviously Kevin when I signed in '96 and when he was England manager.

If you try to forget about football for a moment, they are two great blokes who would do anything for you. All we can do is wish them as well as possible and hope for a speedy recovery, because they're superb men first and foremost.

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