Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola returned to sunny Bournemouth on Sunday where his Reds had anything but a coastal stroll at the Vitality Stadium.
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A cagey first half saw predictably similar systems scrapping for territory, and danger was hard to find in Boscombe.
Iraola was 1W-6L as Bournemouth manager against Liverpool, and the tables didn’t exactly turn on Sunday. The Cherries were strong but Alexander Isak’s calm in the box secured three points for the Reds heading into the break.
Andoni Iraola reaction to Bournemouth 0-1 Liverpool
Happy with the win? “I’m always happy with the result because I know this is a very difficult place to get three points. You could see in the first part of the game we weren’t at the level and it cost us. The beginning of the game, not surprised us but it was difficult for us.”
“When they started to get tired in the second half we had more chances to finish the game. We couldn’t score the second one. The first half, when they play with that intensity you have to be at their level.”
How good was Jeremy Jacquet? “Overall as a team, it’s the third clean sheet in a row in the league. Still things to improve but players like Jeremy, Ronaldo at right back, Milos, they are giving us solidity. We are looking solid.”
How about Gakpo and the attack? “Cody especially. Today he has been very important in both ways — offensively leading the difficult part of the goal. He has done his job. He’s an important player for us.”
How is Florian Wirtz coming along? “I think we started slow this game, I agree. The first minutes they’ve gone quite intense and we were not winning our duels in the middle. After that first phase he improved and Florian helped that. Second half he was much better, he was finding better spots. We have not found the last pass, the last ball to score but I’m much more happy with his performance in the second half than the first.”
