Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola was pleased with his side’s improvement as they secured a 1-0 victory over Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday.
The Reds overcame a slow start to claim their third consecutive league clean sheet, with Alexander Isak scoring the decisive goal.
Iraola also looked ahead to a demanding period of fixtures following the international break, including a clash with Manchester City.
Liverpool boss reflects on slow start
Liverpool manager Iraola admitted that his side were disappointed with their opening 20 minutes but felt they grew into the match and ultimately deserved their victory over Bournemouth.
The Reds struggled to match Bournemouth’s intensity early on, but Iraola was pleased with the improvement towards the end of the first half and after the break.
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 pleased with Liverpool’s recent defensive form, with the Reds recording three consecutive Premier League clean sheets.
The Liverpool boss believes greater familiarity between the defenders has helped the backline become more solid, particularly when the team comes under pressure or needs to protect a result.
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 highlighted Isak’s contribution after the striker scored the decisive goal for Liverpool.
While acknowledging that Isak had struggled to make the most of some earlier opportunities, the Liverpool boss stressed the importance of the forward helping the team maintain possession in the opposition half, where he can make the most of his goalscoring opportunities.
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 continued to improve during the opening month of the season, highlighting the Reds’ defensive record while acknowledging that there is still work to be done.
The Liverpool boss also warned that the upcoming fixture schedule will provide a significant test, with Premier League, Champions League and Carabao Cup matches set to come in quick succession.
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
With much of his squad set to depart for international duty, Iraola explained that Liverpool’s preparations will continue with a reduced group at the AXA Training Centre.
The Reds will then have only a few days to work with their returning internationals before facing Manchester City, making the upcoming run of fixtures an important test for 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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