Liverpool 2-0 Brighton | Andoni Iraola Premier League Post-Match Press Conference

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

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SPEAKER_2 (0:29)

Any first ones, any openers? Lewis?

Andoni Iraola (0:38)

Yeah, very happy, very happy for today, very happy overall for this fourth win.

I think we had today a very good opposition in front, similar to be Arreal de Arrey. Teams that technically are really good. It's difficult to defend them a lot of times. And I think today was the key how we started. We needed a strong start, be aggressive, recover balls, win our duels, be dangerous in transitions. And I think we've done it, and has been a different game from the last ones where we've conceded first, after you need the comeback you need. And today, I think we've started better, and the game has gone differently.

SPEAKER_2 (1:20)

And I think that's six and six in the league for him this season. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time to score.

Andoni Iraola (1:28)

Yes, Alex, I think he's a striker. If we can put him in those positions, we can provide him good crosses, good situations, he will score the goals. I think it's a matter of, in this case, Bradley, winning the duel, going 1v1, being faster than the opposition and finding good spots. Yes.

SPEAKER_4 (1:50)

Andy. Andoni, what was the appetite that you showed to defend your box today, as long as it was just as much as not finishing in Kibberle?

Andoni Iraola (2:01)

Yes, especially second half. Second half, obviously, we defended lower. We didn't give so much space that it was 50-50 in the first half. Both defenses were quite high and then there was space in behind both defensive lines. Second half, I think we were more compact.

But it's a team that if you see stats and they cross a lot, so you have to do the basics very well. You have to clear the ball very well. You have to block shots very well, block crosses, win second balls. And I think overall, our defenders have been good doing those basics. Perth.

SPEAKER_4 (2:35)

Anfield seemed to really enjoy that today. And one part of that was Ronald O'Rourke.

SPEAKER_5 (2:39)

He did everything that he did.

SPEAKER_4 (2:41)

The fans loved the song where he had it off the ground.

SPEAKER_5 (2:44)

How is it, in moments like that, to help get the fans on track?

Andoni Iraola (2:48)

It helps a lot. I think we all enjoyed watching Ronald fighting. I think he's very good in the duels.

Even the first goal, I think he wins two duels in a row. He arrives to the byline, and after, it's not an assist, but it's worth an assist. And defensively, I think he's been really, really, really good. And I'm happy for him, because I've taken him out in the last two games, because we needed more offensive things in half time, and he has continued working with no issues. And today, we needed him more. He has given a very, very good 90 minutes.

SPEAKER_1 (3:32)

You've only been here a short while, Andoni.

SPEAKER_2 (3:34)

Is this your most significant win as Liverpool management given the good side of the game?

Andoni Iraola (3:40)

I don't know. I think we have to value the position, no? But also, I don't know. I've liked the two Champions League games here also. I enjoyed a lot the Atletico-Madrid game, even the other day, the comeback today, considering in the run-off stats games that they were coming, I think it's a very valuable win. But I hope I can have better ones.

Paul G, last one.

SPEAKER_2 (4:02)

Andoni, Fabio and Hetzel in the South both mentioned the personal duels today. He had to give the first two goals that he scored. Is that something you spoke to the team about? The season in the league?

Andoni Iraola (4:16)

Yeah, I haven't seen the stats, but today we knew because we know how they play, they know how we play. They are going to press, we are going to press, we are going to try to build up, they are going to try to build up. So sometimes we have to go more direct. They were also going a lot direct with Gometh in the long balls. So every duel they are in the middle, to the defensive lines that are quite high.