BOURNEMOUTH — Liverpool secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Bournemouth on Sunday, with Alexander Isak scoring the decisive goal on Andoni Iraola’s emotional return to the Vitality Stadium.
Iraola received a warm reception from Bournemouth supporters before kick-off after guiding the Cherries into European competition for the first time in the club’s history.
That achievement eventually earned the Basque coach a move to Liverpool, but his start at Anfield has been inconsistent, increasing the pressure on him to secure a positive result before the international break.
Liverpool once again struggled to produce a convincing performance, but they found the breakthrough when Cody Gakpo’s cross fell perfectly for Isak, who calmly fired home his fourth goal of the season.
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The goal proved enough to give Liverpool all three points.
“To win here is very difficult, I know it very well,” Iraola said after the match. “Overall, we’ve improved, definitely since the first games.”
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The victory lifts Liverpool to sixth place in the table, leaving them just one point behind third-placed Brighton.
Elsewhere, Leeds United missed the opportunity to move into third place after being held to a goalless draw by Crystal Palace at home.
The result leaves the battle for the European places tightly contested as the league heads into the international break.
