Liverpool found no easy way through the Bournemouth press at the Vitality Stadium, but left with a 1-0 win and another marker of their controlled start under Andoni Iraola. Alexander Isak’s second-half finish settled a match in which the visitors had spent long stretches under pressure.
Quick facts
- Liverpool won 1-0 at Bournemouth for their second league victory of the season.
- Alexander Isak scored in the 57th minute after work from Cody Gakpo and Florian Wirtz.
- Jérémy Jacquet impressed again for Liverpool, while Bradley Barcola was substituted in the 72nd minute.
- Adrien Truffert was active going forward for Bournemouth despite one costly defensive moment.
- The result extended Andoni Iraola’s Premier League unbeaten sequence to 23 matches.
The fixture brought together several players included in Zinédine Zidane’s first France squad as national-team coach. Jacquet and Barcola featured for Liverpool, while Truffert started for Bournemouth.
It also carried a personal note for Iraola, back at the club where he had spent three seasons between 2023 and 2026. His Liverpool side had qualified for the League Cup last 16 by beating Tottenham 3-1 on Tuesday, but looked uncomfortable early on the south coast.
Bournemouth pressed high and repeatedly prevented Liverpool from building cleanly from deep. The home side created the clearest opening of a subdued first half when Evanilson flicked the ball into danger, only for Alisson to make the save in the 18th minute.
Liverpool managed only one shot on target before the interval. Barcola forced Djordje Petrovic into action in the 34th minute, but the French winger otherwise struggled to influence the contest and was replaced by Victor Munoz after 72 minutes.
The breakthrough came shortly before the hour. Wirtz attempted an improvised back-heel in front of goal, and Gakpo then delivered a cross without looking across the Bournemouth area. Isak reacted to turn it home in the 57th minute.
Truffert had been energetic in his attacking work and regularly offered Bournemouth an outlet down the flank. However, he was caught short on the decisive move, unable to stop Gakpo’s contribution before Isak finished.
Jacquet, meanwhile, continued his assured early run in Liverpool colours. The defender imposed himself in duels and showed the authority that has quickly made him a notable French presence in Iraola’s side.
Liverpool managed the closing stages without conceding, adding a league win to their midweek cup progress. For Iraola, the narrow victory also preserved a 23-game unbeaten Premier League run.
