Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has admitted he did not want to face former club Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
Iraola will face his old side in the last eight after Wednesday’s quarter-final draw. Liverpool edged Chelsea on penalties to reach the last eight, with Bournemouth beating Aston Villa 3-0 to maintain their good form.
The Spaniard left Bournemouth for Liverpool in the summer, and won 1-0 on his first return to the south coast last month. Speaking after the win over Chelsea, he admitted he did not want another reunion with the Cherries so soon.
“I was talking before the draw and said ‘The only team that I don’t want is Bournemouth’,” he said.
“For me it’s special, but they know me very well, they are playing very well lately, in a good moment. But it is what it is.
“We haven’t been very lucky with the draws. We played Spurs, Chelsea already, now Bournemouth, that is going to be obviously special for me.
“But we have to earn the right to be in the semi-finals and I hope we can do it here at home again.
“In the end in cup competitions, what matters is that you are in the next round, and you are in the draw and luckily for us we finished on the right side of the penalty shoot-out.
“We are pleased because the players have done a very big effort today and at least we get the reward of being in the quarter-finals.”
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