Iraola's Liverpool defence delivers as Isak scores in Bournemouth Premier League win

Liverpool secured a Premier League victory at Bournemouth on 20 September 2026, a result underpinned by a defence that produced a third consecutive league clean sheet under manager Andoni Iraola. Alexander Isak scored his fourth goal of the season in the game, while the travelling supporters chanted "Isak's a Red" after the final whistle.

The win represented Liverpool's third straight Premier League clean sheet, the club's first run of three in a row since September 2024, and across those matches they did not concede an xG greater than 0.76. The match at Bournemouth was Iraola's return to the Cherries and kept his side unbeaten in all competitions as they continue their opening run of the season.

Goalkeeper Alisson and centre-back Virgil van Dijk were singled out for strong displays, with Alisson producing a first-half save to deny Evanilson. Jeremy Jacquet's emergence was highlighted as a major positive; Jacquet, 21, has started every Premier League game since completing his £60m move from Rennes in the summer and has received a France call-up from Zinedine Zidane ahead of the international break.

Van Dijk offered praise for Jacquet, saying: "I think he has showed a lot of good things so far this season. Still so young, a lot to learn and a lot to give. Let's keep it going." Iraola also commented on the defender's progress: "I'm happy for him as he also received his first international call-up. He's also very young and adapted really well to the Premier League. "The first games, he was physically feeling the change of rhythm and I had to substitute him. Today has been a step forward. He looked solid until the end. I think he's in a good place physically and I hope he can continue his development."

Iraola emphasised the improving connections at the back, naming his defenders when discussing cohesion: "The more times they play together, the more solid the defensive line becomes," and listing "Virgil [van Dijk], Jeremy [Jacquet], Ronald [Araujo] and Milos [Kerkez] - they're getting the connections and becoming more solid." The 44-year-old has won two and drawn three of his first five league games in charge of Liverpool, becoming the first manager to remain unbeaten in his opening five league matches for the club since Joe Fagan in September 1983.

Iraola was described as business-like on his return to Bournemouth, having said before the match that the time for talks would be after the game, and he admitted Liverpool struggled for control during long spells before improving after the break and deserving the win. After his post-match news conference he spent time discussing San Sebastian with local journalists who had travelled there with Bournemouth earlier in the week for their Europa League bow.

Addressing the congested calendar, Iraola said: "We we still have to get ready because the schedule we have now is very difficult. I think we play against the top four teams and then in between there is Champions League and Chelsea in the Carabao Cup, every two or three days. So we have to be ready because this month after the break is very demanding for us." He also noted Liverpool have taken nine points from a possible 15 in the Premier League and claimed victories at Anfield in both the Champions League and the Carabao Cup.

Iraola called for more from his attacking players after the match, praising Cody Gakpo's performance, acknowledging Florian Wirtz's slow start but improvement in the second half and noting Bradley Barcola is still awaiting his first goal or assist for Liverpool. On Wirtz he said: "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." On Isak he added: "A striker's job is like this. He had a couple of crosses that he did not hit properly or control but in the end he has to help us to be closer to the box, to play in the opposition's half and have more meaningful possession. And then if the team is playing there, he will receive rewards in terms of goal." Isak had earlier dragged a first-half effort wide and sent a second-half cross high over the bar to some amusement among the home crowd.

After the international break Iraola will be seeking greater attacking returns from his forwards, and Jeremy Jacquet is poised to make his France debut over the upcoming international period following his call-up by Zinedine Zidane.