What Liverpool have learned from facing Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth as Reds decision nears

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Liverpool's matches against Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth have often proved to be eventful affairs over the yearsFor Andoni Iraola it could almost be a case of 'if you can't beat them, join them.' But then came January 24 this year.Liverpool's winter visit to Bournemouth could have been described as the perfect summing up of Arne Slot's troubled second - and as it turned out, final - season at Anfield, were it not for the fighting qualities the Reds displayed in coming from two goals down to level matters at 2-2.But after Dominik Szoboszlai's free-kick in the 80th minute, then came the 95th minute sucker punch from Amine Adli, who smuggled the ball in after James Hill's long throw wasn't cleared by static Liverpool defenders. It was a goal that was as inevitable as it was ugly.Iraola celebrated wildly on the touchline as the Cherries enjoyed only their second victory in 15 games, with the only other one in that time coming in very similar fashion when Antoine Semenyo scored with virtually his last kick as a Bournemouth player against Tottenham.And after masterminding that win over his potential future employers, Iraola would never experience defeat again as Cherries boss.

Excluding penalty shootouts he is currently on a 19-match unbeaten run.All of which is a far cry from his previous record against the Reds, having lost on each of the previous six occasions he came up against them prior to that January clash.But in almost all of those games there was something that made his Bournemouth side stand out as one of the best at punching above their weight in the division, something which has just led them to a sixth-placed finish and a final Premier League points tally which is just three fewer than the Reds.In Iraola's first meeting with Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool - his first ever Premier League away game on August 19, 2023 - his side had the ball in the net twice in the opening three minutes, with Jaidon Anthony's strike disallowed by VAR before Semenyo's counted.Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah, via a penalty rebound, turned matters around before the break, and then after Alexis Mac Allister was harshly sent off in a decision later rescinded, Diogo Jota's poacher's finish made it 3-1 to the 10 men, who ended up hanging on amid strong pressure.Two-and-a-half months later, on November 1, 2023, Liverpool were battling both Storm Ciaran and Iraola's hosts on the south coast, where Darwin Nunez's spectacular strike won a League Cup tie after Cody Gakpo and Justin Kluivert had exchanged earlier goals.It was the toughest test the Reds passed en route to their successful final win over Chelsea, with Iraola displaying his combative side by being booked on the bench.There were slightly calmer conditions on January 21, 2024, when a Premier League visit ended in a 4-0 win for Klopp's Reds thanks to braces from Nunez and Jota.It was a dominant victory, but Iraola's side had given as good as they'd got in a tight, goalless first half, with a final xG tally of 1.37 vs 1.57 suggesting that the 4-0 scoreline was more than a little flattering.The same could be said for a 3-0 win at Anfield on September 21, 2024, when a Reds side now under the tutelage of Slot scored three goals inside 11 first half minutes through Diaz's brace and Nunez's fine strike after Semenyo had an early goal disallowed and Iraola got himself in the book again.Although fans left Anfield happy at the scoreline and the performance from Slot's side, Bournemouth's willingness to keep going in the second period - particularly impressive young left-back Milos Kerkez - was notable. The Cherries registered 19 shots in the game, the same as Liverpool, and their tally of 32 touches in the opposition box was just one fewer than the Reds.By February 1, 2025 Slot's side were well on the way to the title, but a trip to Iraola's men - who were unbeaten in 11 - had long been signposted as a crucial hurdle to overcome.Salah's first half penalty gave the Reds the lead, before David Brooks saw a goal disallowed and then Kluivert missed a scarcely believable sitter.Salah punished him with an expertly taken second goal, and with Iraola in the book again, Liverpool were able to celebrate going nine points clear after emerging from another close battle.Now defending champions, the next meeting on August 15, 2025 was Liverpool's first in their battle to defend their crown, but also a first competitive game since the tragic passing of Jota.Iraola brought his side to an emotional Anfield, and after goals from debutant Hugo Ekitike and Gakpo, Semenyo's superb double had levelled the scores by the 76th minute.Stirred into action, Anfield roused Liverpool for one final push, with Federico Chiesa firing home in the 88th minute before Salah sealed the win.It was a night later remembered for the Egyptian's tears in front of the Kop at the beginning of what would be a tumultuous season.Now as they prepare for the next one, the Reds could be managed by the man in the away dugout that night.FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE!

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