The ghosts of appointments past are already swirling around Andoni Iraola's arrival at Anfield. Glen Johnson has drawn direct comparisons between Liverpool's new manager and Brendan Rodgers, highlighting a similarity that might make some supporters shift uncomfortably in their seats.

Both arrived without the heavyweight credentials typically associated with managing one of football's biggest clubs. Iraola, like Rodgers before him, hasn't won a domestic championship as a manager or worked his way through Liverpool's backroom staff. In fact, they're only the second and third appointments since Bill Shankly to fit that particular profile.

The parallels don't end there. Neither had managed a leading club before their Liverpool appointment, and both arrived without European competition experience under their belts. It's a pattern that might raise eyebrows, especially given how Rodgers' tenure ended after just over three years without silverware.

But Johnson, who played under Rodgers during that era, believes there's a crucial difference this time around. "Brendan Rodgers came into Liverpool and tried to mimic Jose Mourinho in terms of his training style and mentality, and I don't think Iraola will be going into Liverpool trying to copy a blueprint for success," he explained.

That distinction could prove vital. Rodgers often felt like a manager trying to be someone else, borrowing phrases and approaches that never quite fitted naturally. If Iraola can avoid that trap and stay true to his own methods, he might just succeed where his predecessor stumbled.

The former England defender doesn't shy away from acknowledging the challenges ahead. "It is something that concerns me. The unknown is always going to be a question mark until he gets his chance to manage an elite club," Johnson admitted. "No disrespect to Bournemouth, but he is now managing at one of the biggest clubs in world football with some of the best players in the world at his disposal."

It's a fair concern. The step up from keeping Bournemouth competitive to managing Liverpool's expectations is enormous. The pressure, the scrutiny, the weight of history – it's a completely different universe from what Iraola has experienced.

Yet Johnson also sees reasons for optimism. The 43-year-old has three years of Premier League experience behind him, and more importantly, he's been getting results with resources far more limited than what he'll inherit at Anfield. "He's been getting results with a much weaker squad than what Liverpool have, so you like to think the sky is the limit for him once he gets the squad onside and playing his technical style of football."

That's the key point buried in all this comparison talk. Iraola arrives with a clear mandate to restore the front-footed, aggressive and urgent football that supporters crave. His Bournemouth side played exactly that way, pressing high and taking risks that bigger clubs with more to lose might shy away from.

Johnson makes another crucial point about player mentality. "Players just want to win, and they won't care about the credentials of the manager if they are winning week in, week out and challenging at the top of the league." It's brutally simple but absolutely true. Success breeds acceptance faster than any CV ever could.

The Rodgers comparison isn't necessarily a warning – it's more of a reminder. Liverpool have been down this path before, appointing promise over proven achievement. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. The difference this time might lie in Iraola's apparent authenticity and the club's clearer understanding of what they actually want.

Rodgers arrived trying to be the next big thing. Iraola arrives knowing exactly what he is – a coach who maximises what he's given and isn't afraid to take the game to anyone. Whether that translates to silverware remains the ultimate test that will define his Anfield legacy.