Bournemouth 0-1 Liverpool: Alexander Isak scores winner as Andoni Iraola triumphs at his former club

A tense game was settled just after the hour mark as Isak latched onto Cody Gakpo's cross - via a slight nick off Florian Wirtz.

Liverpool snatched victory on a day where they struggled in large parts, with Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher criticising their first-half display, as the Cherries dominated. "Iraola probably cannot believe how lethargic Liverpool look," he said on co-commentary duty.

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But Bournemouth lacked the clinical touch as they remain winless under Marco Rose in the league. Their best chance fell to Evanilson, whose near-post flick from Marcus Tavernier's cross was kept out brilliantly by Alisson - who palmed out the effort from behind him.

The victory is Liverpool's second in the league this season as they go into the international break in sixth place. Bournemouth, meanwhile, sit level on points with Coventry in 17th place.

18: HUGE SAVE! Tavernier's cross from the right is flicked towards the near post by Evanilson but Alisson makes a huge stop.

34: SAVE! Bradley Barcola cuts inside from the left wing and his effort is saved by Djordje Petrovic.

36: JUST WIDE! Dominik Szoboszlai hits a trademark free-kick which bounces just the wrong side of the post.

61: GOAL! Isak crashes Liverpool in front after Gakpo did well down the right wing.

68: SAVE! Bournemouth look for a response but Evanilson can only curl into Alisson's clutches.

70: BIG BLOCK! Gakpo pokes Isak through on goal but James Hill comes across for a big block.

90+2: BIG CHANCE! Lewis Koumas has the chance to seal it for Liverpool but his curling effort inside the box from Victor Munoz's pass is straight at Petrovic.

Iraola unhappy with how Liverpool started game

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola to Sky Sports:

"I'm obviously happy with the result. I know it's a difficult place to come, very difficult place to get three points. We could see in the game, at the beginning in the first 20 minutes, we weren't at the level at the game, and it has cost us until afterwards, where we finished the first half better.

"The second half we played better. But that beginning of the game kind of - not surprised us because we knew where we were coming to - but it was difficult for us.

"We could see a bit later when Bournemouth started to get tired that in the second half we controlled the game much better. We even had chances to finish but didn't score the second one.

"But that first part of the game, we were not winning duels, second balls and when they play with this intensity, you have to be at their level."

Analysis: Where would Liverpool be without Cody Gakpo?

In every single Liverpool game he's started this season, Cody Gakpo has produced a golden moment in front of goal.

A goal at Newcastle on the opening weekend, a silky against Nottingham Forest, assists for both goals in the win over Ipswich, another assist and a goal against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup - but this intervention at Bournemouth was the best of the lot.

With Liverpool struggling for attacking influence, Gakpo's hard-fought run and cross down the right wing was vital in the build-up to Alexader Isak's winner. "The difficult part of the goal is from him," said Iraola about Gakpo, who is unfortunate not to be accredited with the assist.

But Gakpo also starred defensively at Bournemouth, winning more duels than any other player on the pitch. He shut down one of the Cherries' biggest threats. "I know Adrien Truffert very well and he demands a lot from you defensively. Cody today has been very important in both ways."

Looking at this form, it is absolutely staggering that Liverpool considered sanctioning the sale of Gakpo this summer. Where would they be without him?

Rose: Bournemouth panicked in tight situations

Bournemouth head coach Marco Rose to Sky Sports:

"We couldn't see that one team deserved to win. We played really good in the first 25 minutes and then it got more open.

"We had to work really hard to get chances but we conceded an easy goal.

"In both boxes, you had to be ready and be present. In the end, they scored the goal with one situation and we put a lot of effort into creating chances.

"We panicked a little bit in tight situations. We were fit and I thought we could bring more energy into the game. It is disappointing.

"It was an opportunity to win, right now we have three points from five games and it is disappointing, I think we missed details."

What the result means and next fixtures...