Andoni Iraola explains the key reason behind Liverpool keeping three clean sheets in a row
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Liverpool recorded their third Premier League clean sheet in succession on Sunday as they rode their luck to beat Bournemouth 1-0 at the Vitality Stadium.The Reds have not conceded a goal in the league since Morgan Gibbs-White’s penalty for Nottingham Forest on August 29th, keeping shut outs against Ipswich, Fulham and Bournemouth.There have been some superb individual performances at times to keep the shut-outs intact, but according to Andoni Iraola, Liverpool‘s newfound solidity is simply down to the players in his back line getting more used to each other. Liverpool win at Bournemouth!
Alexander Isak's goal was decisive, earning Iraola a huge three points on his Vitality return 💪 Liverpool’s defenders are getting to know each otherWith Ronald Araujo now a permanent fixture in Liverpool’s defence along with Jeremy Jacquet, the Reds have two new faces in their regular back four.That was always likely to take some time to bed in, as old heads Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker get used to their new colleagues.Asked about the current clean sheet run during his post-match press conference, Iraola said that the familiarity has now grown, meaning Liverpool are much more able to close the door on teams when they need to.“I think the more time especially the defenders play together I think it becomes more solid as a unit in the defensive line,” he said.READ MORE: Liverpool’s player ratings v Bournemouth as Andoni Iraola secures vital win on return to South Coast“I think Jeremy, Virgil with the help now of Ronald, Milos, are getting the connections. I think we are becoming more solid and in moments that you need to defend or they are putting the pressure [on] I think we are looking solid.”Liverpool never looked unduly troubled against Bournemouth, and though they were helped by one miraculous first-half save from Alisson and a terrific all-round display from Jacquet, the unit as a whole looked unbreachable, and as they grow ever more familiar with each other, that should only continue to get even better.
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