Andoni Iraola was a frustrated man after Liverpool beat Bournemouth on the opening day of the 2025/26 season.
The Cherries were one of the most exciting teams to watch in the Premier League last term, and they showed why they are such a good side on Friday night.
Bournemouth did not give up despite going two goals down after strikes from Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo. Antoine Semenyo scored twice to level the game.
Unfortunately for Iraola, his team still ended up on the losing side.
Andoni Iraola says Federico Chiesa ‘made the difference’ as Liverpool beat Bournemouth
Federico Chiesa has had a difficult time at Liverpool.
The Italy international joined the Reds from Juventus in the summer of 2024, but injuries really troubled him in his debut campaign at Anfield.
Chiesa played just 466 minutes of football in all competitions for Liverpool last season, and he didn’t even score a goal in the Premier League.
That changed on Friday night, as Chiesa, who came on as a substitute late in the game, scored what proved to be the winner against Bournemouth.
At that stage, the momentum was on the Cherries’ side, who had levelled the game after going two goals down, but Chiesa’s strike changed everything.
After the game, Andoni Iraola claimed that the Italian was the difference-maker.
He said, as relayed on Beanyman Sports: “Yes, as you said, really pleased with the performance. I think today we’ve missed a big chance to take something from the game.
“Probably the game was quite level from both sides. I would say that means that we played really well to play a quite level game against Liverpool. The key to not take the points obviously is to concede four goals. I don’t think today was a game to concede four goals.
“When the momentum was on our side, we scored the 2-2, and in the end, it’s a kind of a poor goal to concede, the third one. Two players going for the same ball, the clearance…
“It’s true that Chiesa finishes really well. That’s why they are so good, because in moments where they are struggling, they are not having the chances, someone appears. In this case, it was Chiesa who made the difference.”
Federico Chiesa’s Liverpool future is still unclear
Liverpool have one of the best attacks in the Premier League.
As ‘unbelievable‘ a player as Chiesa is, it was always going to be difficult for him to nail down a starting spot at Anfield, and his injury issues made things even harder.
Liverpool have been open to selling Chiesa in this window, and we don’t think his goal on Friday night changes that.
The Italy international will drop further down the pecking order if Liverpool end up signing Alexander Isak in the coming days, which is not ideal at all ahead of the World Cup next year.
Liverpool fans love Chiesa, and his goal against Bournemouth brought them a lot of joy. However, it is still likely that he will leave the club before the window shuts.