Crystal Palace v Liverpool | Andoni Iraola Premier League Pre-Match Press Conference

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

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SPEAKER_3 (0:39)

Andoni, first of all, I know you were asked through the day whether you'd have an explanation over the penalty incident with Alexander against Arsenal. Has that prompted any contact since then, and if not, how disappointing that you've not received any kind of explanation around it?

Andoni Iraola (0:55)

No, we haven't received an explanation, but this is how it works. I've just received the conclusion of the panel, that I think you also see from the previous game week, I think it's against Brighton, that nothing happened in our game, and we will have to wait, I think it's 10 days before they give whatever they think, but no news.

SPEAKER_3 (1:17)

We build up to the Arsenal game, the outside talk was at least of emerging as the major threat to Arsenal in the title race, but for the penalty show, I suppose that might still be the case, or might have still been the case. Ahead of Palisade, the talk seems to be more that you're fighting for Champions League spots, so what's the feeling in here? How do you deal as well with those kind of fluctuations?

Andoni Iraola (1:37)

I think that's the challenge, especially in a club like Liverpool. A week ago in this press conference, we were in a run, everything was in a good place, and we were in a better mood, and now, two defeats, it changes, and it has to change, and it has to be like this in clubs like ours. And now we have to react after two defeats.

We need the win against Palisade away, and we've been, I think, in similar situations against, I remember, Bournemouth before the international break, even the Bramford game, so we have to go there and do the job and win the game.

SPEAKER_3 (2:11)

Some of the focus, it seems, after Fenerbahce has been Bradley Barca playing in that central striking role, how likely are we to see that again in utilising that kind of role this season?

Andoni Iraola (2:21)

No, Bradley's a winger. He can, mostly has played as a left winger, sometimes as a right winger, but also has played in PSG as a striker, and it's something that I wanted to try.

I thought against the centre backs, he could be a threat, especially in behind, but he's a winger and he will be mostly, 90% of the time, used as a winger, but I think it's an alternative that I sometimes want to try. I tried with Cody against Chelsea, I think, in the Carabao Cup, and not maybe from the beginning, but it's true that during the games, I think it's options that we can use when Alex is tired and we need another type of striker, we can use other strikers that we have, but also wingers that can do a job there.

SPEAKER_3 (3:09)

Just one other thing I wanted to mention was just obviously Rio back in the England squad as well, kind of a further endorsement as to the way he started the season.

Andoni Iraola (3:17)

Yes, it's very good, very good news for him and very, very good news for us. I think he's always a threat when we can put him in good positions to go against their opponents. And I think he's growing and he's helping us a lot, yes.

SPEAKER_4 (3:33)

In terms of Palace and Andoni, in a difficult moment themselves, what do you make of them, no doubt? You watched them in the national lesson.

Andoni Iraola (3:40)

Yes, I think there is, even if they change the manager, there is a continuity in terms of more or less the system is the same. The players are very familiarized with the things that they are trying to do. I was obviously watching the game.

Yesterday, they fight until the end. Even with 10 players, they managed to get a result in the last second. I think it's a team that has good quality players inside. They put their box there in the middle. Technically, Uartong, Kamada, Jeremy Pino, all the players that can play there are timber good on the ball. And also, it's a pitch that is not the biggest pitch. So, you feel quickly under pressure in terms of one throw in, one long ball, straight away it goes into the boxes. So, there is a lot of situations inside the boxes that you have to be very good offensively and defensively, yes.