Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola was pleased with his side’s improvement after their 1-0 Premier League win over Bournemouth on Sunday.
The Reds made a slow start but improved as the game progressed. They also recorded their third straight league clean sheet.
Alexander Isak scored the only goal of the match. Iraola also looked ahead to a busy period after the international break. Liverpool will face Manchester City during that run.
Liverpool boss reflects on slow start
Liverpool manager Iraola admitted that his side struggled during the opening 20 minutes. However, he felt the team grew into the match.
The Reds could not match Bournemouth’s early intensity. They improved towards the end of the first half.
Liverpool also looked stronger after the break. Iraola felt his team deserved the victory.
Iraola said in his press conference on Liverpool’s official website: “I was disappointed with the first 20, 25 minutes – I think we didn’t start the game with the intensity the game required.
“To win here is very difficult, I know it very well.
“Normally Bournemouth start really strong and it took us these 20, 25 minutes until we matched a little bit this level – and from there and I think at the end of the first half and second half we played better, we had better situations with the ball and we could win the game.”
Iraola hails Liverpool’s defensive improvement
Iraola was also happy with Liverpool’s recent defensive form. The Reds have now kept three consecutive Premier League clean sheets.
The Liverpool boss believes the defence has grown stronger with more time together.
He also praised the connections between the defenders. Those partnerships have helped Liverpool deal with pressure.
Iraola mentioned to the press: “I think the more time – especially the defenders – they play together, I think it becomes more solid as a unit in the defensive line.
“I think Jeremy [Jacquet] and Virgil [van Dijk] with the help now of Ronald [Araujo] and Milos [Kerkez] are getting the connections.
“I think it’s becoming more solid and in the moments that you need to defend the result or they are putting you under pressure, I think we are looking solid.”
Isak’s match-winning impact
Iraola also praised Isak after the striker scored the winning goal.
The forward had missed some earlier chances. However, Iraola stressed the importance of his overall contribution.
He wants Isak to help Liverpool keep possession in the opposition half. That position can also create more scoring chances.
The Spaniard explained: “The striker’s job is like this. He had a couple of crosses that he doesn’t hit properly, one chance [he couldn’t] control and this.
“I think he has to help us to be closer to the box, to play in the opposition half, to have meaningful possession and then, if the team is playing there, he will receive the rewards in terms of goals.”
Pleased with steady progress
Iraola believes Liverpool have improved during the opening month of the season.
He highlighted the team’s defensive record. However, he also admitted that Liverpool still have areas to improve.
The upcoming fixture list will provide another major test. Liverpool face Premier League, Champions League and Carabao Cup matches in a short period.
Reflecting on the team, Iraola said: “I think overall we’ve improved, definitely since the first games.
“Some of the things we still need to improve, more things. I am happy it is the third clean sheet in a row in the league. Today is a kind of difficult game, I knew you never play comfortably here.
“Bournemouth don’t allow you to play comfortably normally, they put you under pressure and you have to adapt and you have to win this kind of game.
“But we still have to get ready because the schedule that we have now, it’s very difficult.
“I think we are playing against top-four teams and then in between Champions [League] and then in between Chelsea in the Carabao [Cup] and everything in two, three days.
“So we have to get ready because this next month, after this break, it’s going be very demanding for us.”
Liverpool face busy international break
Many Liverpool players will leave for international duty. Iraola explained that the remaining players will continue training at the AXA Training Centre.
The returning internationals will have little time to prepare for the next match.
Liverpool will face Manchester City soon after the break. Iraola knows the busy schedule will test the squad.
As for his plans, Iraola stated: “We will still train, but it’s true that we are training with four or five players because most of the team is playing with the national team.
“The players will now have some days off and then we will keep working with the ones that stay.
“Then we will prepare well for when the others come and you have no more than three days probably to prepare for the [Manchester] City game.
“We are ready not just for that game, but for the run of games that we have that is going to be demanding.”
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