Andoni Iraola makes honest Liverpool assessment as 'intensity' admission made

Liverpool was just too good for Bournemouth to be able to deal with, Cherries boss Andoni Iraola conceded after Saturday's game. The Spaniard was left impressed by what Arne Slot's side produced at Anfield.

"I think they [Liverpool] were better when it mattered, when the game is on the line," Iraola told the BBC. "We had a disallowed goal and other chances, but when the game was very open they made the difference when it clearly mattered. The start wasn't very different, but the things you do after 3-0 are not very valuable.

"We feel like we were doing well and having our chances. After the first goal, we lost the intensity and focus — you cannot allow this. The momentum changed and probably a lack of experience [counted]. We are a young team and we need to calm the game after conceding the first goal."

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Iraola was furious at the fourth official in the first half but seemed to cool off a little in the second period, by which time the result was beyond doubt. "I think it has been a misunderstanding and I hope we can overturn it," he said.

"They booked me for asking for a yellow card, but I was asking for an offside. I wanted not an advantage but an offside and there was nothing happening where I could ask for a yellow card. I don't know how this works here, I don't know.

"The problem is that it is not the first game where we have a lot of chances but don't get the goals we expected. Especially at this level, you have to take your chances when you are playing well because for sure they will punish you.

"We did more than enough to score. It is difficult for us to accept. What you do in the boxes makes the difference and we need to improve on certain things."

Liverpool.com says: Iraola's side is well put together and there are some good wingers, in particular, for him to call upon. This was a game that suited Liverpool, though. Bournemouth wasn't able to frustrate the Reds in the same way that Nottingham Forest did.