Andoni Iraola makes classy Liverpool admission after seeing the 'stats' in Bournemouth defeat

-Credit: (Image: Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)
-Credit: (Image: Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)


Andoni Iraola believes Liverpool still have the same “identity” after watching his Bournemouth team well beaten at Anfield. Three goals in 11 first-half minutes – two from Luis Diaz and one by Darwin Nunez – gave the Reds a 3-0 home Premier League win against the Cherries on Saturday afternoon.

It put Arne Slot’s side temporarily top of the table before champions Manchester City and title contenders Arsenal meet on Sunday.

And Iraola was impressed with the manner in which Liverpool were a constant attacking threat when asked to compare the current team to that under Slot’s predecessor Jurgen Klopp.

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“They haven’t changed the identity of the team,” said the Bournemouth boss. “They are very, very dangerous, they have a lot of speed, especially up front.

“With Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah, they have threat in behind and they have speed.

“They have different structures to play transitional. It has been what Liverpool have been (in the past). They lost the game against Forest but they are doing very well.”

Bournemouth managed the same number of shots as Liverpool although the Reds hit the target far more regularly. And Iraola had no complaints with the final outcome.

“I understand the stats were quite level but they were better than it mattered,” he added.

“When the game is on the line, they were much better than us. When they had the chances, they made the difference.

“You look at the stats and think 20 shots, seven corners, we had momentum but it had less value. At 3-0, they were pushing still.”