Liverpool to face Iraola's Bournemouth in Carabao Cup quarter-final
Liverpool have been handed a Carabao Cup quarter-final tie against Bournemouth, with the Reds' own head coach Andoni Iraola candidly admitting it was the one draw he was hoping to avoid against his former club.
Sky Sports confirms the full last-eight picture, reporting that Liverpool will host Bournemouth in the week of December 14, as League One Bradford City travel to Manchester City and League Two Fleetwood Town land a home tie of their own (Sky Sports). It comes after Liverpool booked their place in the draw with a dramatic penalty shootout win over Chelsea at Anfield.
Both the Liverpool Echo and Liverpool.com zero in on Iraola's reaction, with the Spaniard having spent time in charge of the Cherries before taking the Anfield job. The Liverpool Echo says Iraola "reveals the one team he didn't want Liverpool to draw" (Liverpool Echo), while Liverpool.com reports he "admitted that the Cherries were the last team he wanted to face" (Liverpool.com). BBC Sport captures it most directly, quoting Iraola's own words: "The only team I don't want is Bournemouth" (BBC Sport).
Away from the draw itself, there's plenty of reflection on how Liverpool got there. Liverpool.com reports that Iraola "gave powerful speech to young Liverpool stars" before the Chelsea win, crediting the club's youngsters for repaying his faith in them during the shootout triumph (Liverpool.com). This Is Anfield picks up a similar theme, saying Iraola is "restoring personality" at Liverpool following what he called a "significant win" (This Is Anfield), while also reporting his view that goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili proved the squad's lineup "balance" is paying off (This Is Anfield).
Liverpool.com adds some wider context too, noting that Iraola has brought a "noticeable Liverpool change" as UK media reacted to the shootout win over Chelsea, a game in which Xabi Alonso endured "another unhappy return to Merseyside" (Liverpool.com). All the outlets broadly agree on the headline facts: Liverpool beat Chelsea on penalties, the Carabao Cup quarter-final draw pits them against Bournemouth, and Iraola is clearly relishing - if a little uneasy about - facing the club where he made his name in England.
For Liverpool supporters, it sets up an intriguing December fixture against a manager who clearly still feels a strong connection to Bournemouth, even as he looks to build something of his own at Anfield.
Written with the help of AI, using the headlines from the publishers credited above. Each point links to the original report — tap the source name to read it in full.