Isak winner earns Liverpool narrow win at Bournemouth

Alexander Isak struck the only goal as Liverpool beat Bournemouth 1-0 at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday 20 September, spoiling Andoni Iraola's return to the club he guided into Europe for the first time in its history.

The Premier League meeting carried extra weight beyond the three points. Iraola was given a warm reception from the Bournemouth support before kick-off, a tribute to the Basque's achievement in taking the Cherries into European competition, and that success ultimately led to Liverpool prising him away to Anfield.

His start in Merseyside has been up and down, and the visitors arrived on the south coast needing a victory to ease tensions ahead of the international break. They got one, though the performance again fell well short of convincing.

Isak finishes from Gakpo's cross

The decisive moment came when Cody Gakpo delivered a cross that sat up kindly for Isak, who fired in for his fourth goal of the season. It was enough to separate the sides on a tight afternoon in Bournemouth, where midfield duels between the hosts' Alex Scott and Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai typified a contest of few clear-cut openings.

Iraola was realistic about the challenge his former club presented, and about the progress his own side have made.

"To win here is very difficult, I know it very well," he said. "Overall we've improved, definitely since the first games."

Liverpool move to sixth before the international break

Victory lifts Liverpool to sixth in the Premier League table and within a point of third-placed Brighton, a position that at least steadies things before the break in domestic action.

Elsewhere, Leeds missed the chance to go third themselves after being held 0-0 at home by Crystal Palace.

SportsLigue