Bournemouth: Alexander Isak scored the only goal of the game as Liverpool edged Bournemouth 1-0 in the Premier League on Sunday, handing Andoni Iraola a winning return to the Vitality Stadium against his former club.

The Swedish striker struck in the 57th minute, latching onto a loose ball in the penalty area after Cody Gakpo’s raid down the right and a challenge involving Florian Wirtz and Bournemouth defender James Hill. Isak kept his composure to slot home with a controlled finish.

It was Isak’s fourth league goal of the season, and the win kept Liverpool unbeaten heading into the international break, even if the performance once again raised questions about the team’s attacking fluency.

A scrappy win that masked struggles

Liverpool managed only six efforts on goal across the 90 minutes, with big-money signing Wirtz enduring another muted outing. Gakpo was a willing outlet on the right and Bradley Barcola looked lively on the left, but the front players struggled to gel for long stretches.

Bournemouth, led by Marco Rose, made life difficult for the visitors in a game short on clear chances. The hosts had enjoyed two fewer days of rest after beating Real Sociedad in the Europa League on Thursday, yet they matched Liverpool for intensity for much of the contest.

Iraola’s bittersweet homecoming

The subplot of the afternoon was Iraola himself. The Spaniard spent three seasons in charge at Bournemouth, culminating in the club’s first-ever European qualification, before leaving for Anfield in the summer when his contract expired.

After the match, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk praised the result and the clean sheet, urging calm as the team heads into a congested period. Iraola, meanwhile, acknowledged the slow start but felt his side deserved the three points.

For Liverpool, the numbers tell a mixed story: unbeaten, solid at the back, but reliant on moments like Isak’s predatory finish to turn dominance of possession into wins. With the international break now offering a breather, Iraola will hope the goals start flowing more freely when the campaign resumes.