Andoni Iraola press conference: Liverpool 2-0 Brighton, Araujo, Isak and more
Andoni Iraola was pleased with the battling qualities Liverpool displayed in a 'very valuable' 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday.
Pascal Gross' own goal in the 17th minute was soon followed by an Alexander Isak finish as the Reds recorded their fourth straight victory in all competitions.
The three points moved Iraola's side up to fourth in the Premier League standings.
Read on for a full transcript of the head coach's post-match press conference.
On four wins in a row...
Very happy. Very happy for today, very happy overall for these four wins. I think we had today a very good opposition in front, similar to Villarreal the other day – teams that technically are really good. It's difficult to defend them a lot of times. I think today the key was how we started. We needed a stronger start, be aggressive, recover the ball, win our duels, be dangerous in transitions. I think we've done it and it has been a different game from the last ones, where we've conceded first and after you need a comeback. Today, I think we've started better and the game has gone differently.
On Isak...
He's a striker if we can put him in those positions, we can provide him with crosses, good situations, he will score the goals. I think it's a matter of, in this case, Bradley [Barcola] winning the duel, going one-v-one, being faster than the opposition and finding good spots.
On whether Liverpool's 'appetite' to defend the penalty area pleased him...
Yes, especially [in the] second half. In the second half, obviously we defended lower, we didn't give so much space. It was 50-50 in the first half. Both defences 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, they cross a lot, so you have to do the basics very well. You have to clear the ball very well, block shots very well, block crosses, win second balls. I think overall our defenders have been good doing those basics.
On Ronald Araujo's performance...
It helps a lot. I think we all enjoyed watching Ronald fighting. I think he's very good in the duels. Even in 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 good. 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. Today we needed him more. He has given a very, very good 90 minutes.
On whether this is his 'most significant' win at Liverpool...
I don't know. I think we have to value the position but also 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 the run of games that they were coming [in from], I think it's a very valuable win. But I hope we can have better ones.
On winning duels...
I haven't seen the stats but we know how they play, they know how we play, they are going to press, we are going to press, we're 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 [Diego] Gomez in the long balls, so every duel there in the middle, the defensive lines are quite high. Every duel you can win, you have the space to go one-v-one with your wingers, with your No.9. I think, especially [in the] first half, we've been very good winning those duels and we can provide good situations for our offensive players.
