‘Honestly…’ – Andoni Iraola gives candid reaction to drawing Bournemouth in Carabao Cup quarters

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola admitted he preferred to avoid Bournemouth after his side was paired with his former club in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals. Liverpool advanced to the last eight by defeating Chelsea on penalties on Wednesday, while Bournemouth reached the round by defeating Aston Villa. Iraola described the upcoming home matchup as special, noting that his former team knows him well and is currently in strong form.

The tie is expected to be played around Wednesday, December 16, marking Iraola's second clash against Bournemouth this season following a 1-0 win in September. Bournemouth has found momentum under Marco Rose, securing recent 3-0 victories against AC Milan, Manchester United, and Aston Villa. With several top teams eliminated, Iraola reiterated his intention to compete seriously for silverware in the tournament.