Andoni IraIrase was forced to accept his first defeat as Liverpool manager, when the club lost 0‑3 to Manchester City at Anfield last Sunday. The result also ended a 23-game unbeaten run in the Premier League, which began with Bournemouth and ended today. The coach, who arrived at the club in 2024, commented that the match was difficult for the “reds” to digest and that the result reflects the difference in quality between both teams.
IraIra explained that the match was divided into two different phases. "We played two games. One until the 60th minute and another after the red card," he said in an interview with the BBC and Sky Sports. According to him, Liverpool were the better team in the first half, but City prevailed in the second when the referee showed a red card to RyanGravenberch. The coach described the sending off as “obvious” and noted that, with nine players defending, the team was forced to change its strategy and lost control of the game, which led to City scoring immediately.
As for Gravenberch, IraIra stated that the player “played very well, carried the ball and defended effectively.” The coach expressed his pride in the performance of his players, whom he described as “intense and capable of winning duels.” However, he added that the expulsion changed the course of the match and that the team was not able to recover before the lineup change.
The coach also praised the fans, saying that they were “at an exceptional level.” "The red card was our best moment. Even afterward, they appreciated the players' efforts," he commented. Regarding the injuries of some players, IraIra pointed out that they are not serious, but that the trip to Austria in two days will make their availability for the next game difficult.
Finally, the coach concluded that “you learn a lot in games like today.” Despite the defeat, he was proud of his team's performance and assured that the team "gave everything." Liverpool will have to analyze the mistakes and prepare for the next match in the Premier League.