Andoni Iraola was thrilled to overcome a "difficult" trip to the Vitality Stadium after Liverpool battled for a 1-0 win over former club Bournemouth. 

Iraola's unbeaten start to life with the Reds continued on Sunday after Alexander Isak's 57th-minute strike proved the difference, moving Liverpool up to sixth in the Premier League. 

Bournemouth had chances throughout the contest, with Alisson Becker forced into action by Evanilson, but his improvised flick was repelled by the visiting goalkeeper. 

With this win, Iraola became the first manager to remain unbeaten in his first five league games in charge of Liverpool since Joe Fagan in September 1983, and they were deserving of all three points. 

Liverpool finished with an expected goals (xG) total of 1.57 from their 12 shots to Bournemouth's total of 0.76 from their nine attempts at Alisson's goal.

But a moment of individual quality told, as Isak's fourth goal of the season, already surpassing his Premier League total from the last campaign (three goals in 14 appearances), ensured Bournemouth remained without a league win under Marco Rose. 

In what was Iraola's first return to the south coast since leaving Bournemouth for Merseyside, the Spaniard expressed his delight at securing a second league win of the season, but he acknowledged his team struggled in the first half.

"I'm obviously happy with the result because I know this is a difficult place to come to," Iraola told Sky Sports. 

"We finished the first half better and were better in the second half. It was difficult for us [at the start]. In the second half, we controlled the game much better and had the chance to finish it.

"But in the first part of the game we were not winning the second ball, and when they play with such intensity you have to be at that level."

Liverpool have now won 78.9% of their Premier League games against Bournemouth (15/19 – D1 L3), their second-highest rate against any side they have faced 5+ times in the competition, behind only Wolves (79.2% - 19/24).

But after a difficult season at the back under Arne Slot in 2025-26, Iraola will be pleased with the way his defence performed. 

The Reds have kept three consecutive clean sheets in the Premier League for the first time since September 2024 (four in a row), while Bournemouth failed to attempt 10+ shots in a Premier League home game in 2026 (nine), for the first time since December 2025 against Everton.

"Overall, as a team, it's a third clean sheet in a row. Still things to improve, but they are giving us solidity in the moments we need to defend," Iraola added. 

Iraola was also asked about the performance of Florian Wirtz, who again struggled against Bournemouth. 

The 23-year-old has registered seven goals and nine assists in 55 appearances in all competitions for the Reds, though he has managed just one assist in 2026-27. 

Only Ronald Araujo (23) and Milos Kerkez (16) lost possession more times than Wirtz (15), who was substituted in the 71st minute, though the German did finish with a team-leading three chances created (level with Cody Gakpo).

"It was a slow start, but after the first phase Florian helped us to improve, and I am much happier with his performance in the second half," Iraola said of Wirtz's display.