Andoni Iraola, Manager of AFC Bournemouth, acknowledges the fans after the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Liverpool at Vitality Stadium on January 24, 2026 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)placeholder image
Andoni Iraola, Manager of AFC Bournemouth, acknowledges the fans after the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Liverpool at Vitality Stadium on January 24, 2026 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Liverpool conceded a 95th-minute goal to suffer a 3-2 loss at the hands of AFC Bournemouth
AFC Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola admitted that he was told ‘the game was over’ just 10 seconds before his side earned a last-gasp victory over Liverpool.
The Cherries earned a 3-2 triumph against the Reds - with a 95th-minute goal delivering the home side all three points. Bournemouth had won just one of their previous 14 games heading into the Premier League encounter. Yet the hosts moved into a two-goal lead within 33 minutes through goals from Evanilson and Alex Jimenez.
Virgil van Dijk reduced the arrears for Liverpool before half-time and Dominik Szoboszlai bagged his latest free-kick with 10 minutes of normal time remaining.
But like in plenty of the Reds’ games this season, there was late drama. And in the fifth minute of stoppage-time, Arne Slot’s side’s weakness at defending set-pieces were exploiting. A long throw into the Liverpool box was not dealt with and Amine Adli pounced to send the hosts into raptures.
After the triumph, an elated Iraola said: “I think it's probably the best goal to score, because I had just asked the fourth official 10 seconds before he told me no, the game is over. It's just this long throw. So when you score, you know it's okay, it's a win. And sometimes it has happened differently this season.
“We've conceded stoppage time goals, the other day against Brighton, the Burnley game. But when it happens to your side, it's a lovely moment to celebrate.”
Bournemouth were depleted of players against Liverpool, with key man including Tyler Adams, Marcus Tavernier and Justin Kluivert unavailable. But the Cherries dug deep and Iraola explained that he told his players not to play with as much energy during the game so they had some left in the tank for the closing stages.
Iraola added: “I think we are finding lately ways to get points or get wins a little bit in a different way.
“Normally we go full gas since the beginning, we try to keep the energy until the end. And now probably because we don't have the numbers, because we need to adapt a little bit, we are choosing a little bit more the moments when to go, when to stay a little bit deeper.
“Also thinking that we need to save a little bit of energy for the end of the game. And I think in a different way the team is finding ways to get points.
“After a very bad run, I think it's seven points from the last nine against Spurs, Brighton, Liverpool. It's a good amount for us in a moment that we really needed it.”
Continue Reading