There was something quite refreshing about Jamie Carragher’s assessment of Liverpool’s win at Bournemouth.
It wasn’t a performance that will live long in the memory.
It wasn’t the kind of attacking display we expected when Andoni Iraola was appointed.
And, if we’re being completely honest, Liverpool were nowhere near their best.
But they won the game.
And sometimes that is exactly what you need.
Speaking on The Overlap, Carragher admitted that Liverpool didn’t play particularly well at the Vitality Stadium.
But he also made a really important point about what that result means going into the international break.
> “I don’t think Liverpool played particularly well, but it felt like one of those games where it was all about the result and put to bed our worries. You know, thinking around the team for the next three weeks and we can all just relax and enjoy it.”
And I have to say, I completely understand where Carragher is coming from.
Liverpool Didn’t Need To Be Brilliant
There has been a lot of discussion around Liverpool’s performances this season.
The attack hasn’t completely clicked.
Florian Wirtz is still trying to find his best role.
The midfield has been questioned.
There have been concerns about how Iraola’s football is developing.
And then there was that frustrating 0-0 draw against Fulham.
So imagine if Liverpool had gone to Bournemouth and dropped points.
The international break would have felt very different.
Instead, Alexander Isak produced the moment Liverpool needed, finishing in the second half to give the Reds a 1-0 victory.
It wasn’t spectacular.
It didn’t need to be.
Liverpool came away with three points, another clean sheet and an unbeaten start to Iraola’s reign.
That matters.
The Defence Deserves Credit
One thing that perhaps hasn’t received enough attention is just how much more solid Liverpool are beginning to look defensively.
Bournemouth certainly had opportunities, particularly during a difficult first half for Liverpool, but Alisson was there when required and Jeremy Jacquet once again produced an impressive display.
Jacquet was voted Liverpool’s Player of the Match by supporters after the game.
That tells you something.
Liverpool haven’t been perfect under Iraola.
Far from it.
But we’re starting to see the foundations of a team that doesn’t completely fall apart when things aren’t going their way.
And that’s important.
Alisson himself admitted that it wasn’t Liverpool’s cleanest performance, but highlighted the importance of winning while keeping another clean sheet.
That’s exactly what Carragher is talking about.
Maybe We Can Actually Enjoy The Break
This was the part of Carragher’s comments that really made me smile.
Because he’s right.
Liverpool supporters have spent the opening weeks of the season analysing absolutely everything.
Is Wirtz being used correctly?
Why isn’t the attack clicking?
Should Mac Allister be playing more?
Is the midfield balanced?
Is Iraola getting his ideas across?
Are Liverpool good enough to challenge?
There has been something to debate after virtually every game.
And now?
We can actually relax for a couple of weeks.
Liverpool have gone into the international break unbeaten in seven games across all competitions under Iraola.
That’s not perfection.
But it’s certainly not a disaster either.
And perhaps that’s the biggest thing Liverpool fans need to remember.
The Real Tests Are Coming
There is another reason Carragher is right to enjoy the Bournemouth result.
Liverpool’s next run of Premier League fixtures is going to tell us far more about where this team actually stands.
Manchester City are waiting after the international break, followed by a difficult sequence of fixtures against teams currently occupying the upper reaches of the table.
Carragher has already pointed out that those upcoming meetings will provide a much clearer indication of Liverpool’s level.
And that’s when the questions will really start.
But there is absolutely no point worrying about those games now.
Liverpool have three weeks to recover, work on things and get players back from international duty.
Iraola has already acknowledged that preparation for City will be difficult because many players will only return shortly before the game.
So why not take the positives?
I’m With Carragher On This One
I actually think Carragher has summed it up perfectly.
Liverpool weren’t particularly good at Bournemouth.
But they didn’t need to be.
They found a way to win.
They scored through Isak.
They kept another clean sheet.
They showed resilience.
And they gave themselves something very important going into the international break — peace of mind.
There will be plenty of time to analyse Wirtz.
Plenty of time to debate the midfield.
Plenty of time to discuss Iraola’s tactics.
And plenty of time to wonder whether Liverpool can eventually challenge for the biggest prizes.
For now?
I’m taking Carragher’s advice.
I’m putting the Bournemouth worries to bed and enjoying the break.
Liverpool won.
They’re unbeaten.
The defence is looking much stronger.
And Alexander Isak is scoring goals.
Sometimes, you really can just enjoy being a Liverpool supporter.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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