Following Liverpool's home victory over Brighton & Hove Albion, manager Andoni Iraola spoke to Viaplay about his feelings on finally securing a home win, the contrasting performances in the first and second halves, and the defensive line's display.
On the match:
This was a much-needed win for us. We've been eager to finally win at home because our away form has been excellent. Against such a tough opponent, I think we deserved the victory and the clean sheet, given our overall team performance.
Reporter: The first half was fairly even, but you took control in the second half and saw out the game. What are your thoughts on that?
Andoni Iraola: I think that's right—the two halves were completely different. In the first half, we played with more intensity, constantly winning the ball and counter-attacking in transition, posing a significant threat to Brighton & Hove Albion. We were dangerous throughout, scoring two goals to take a 2-0 lead.
In the second half, they had more possession and a higher pass completion rate, while we defended a bit deeper and didn't give them much space. Overall, though, I thought it was an excellent performance. We could have executed a few counter-attacks better—particularly those 3-on-2 and 2-on-2 opportunities—and scored a third goal to seal the win. All in all, I'm still very satisfied.
Reporter: What did you make of the spirit shown by the back four, particularly Araujo's performance today?
Andoni Iraola: Yes, I think all the defenders performed exceptionally well. Brighton & Hove Albion is a team that puts in a lot of crosses, so you have to deal with those deliveries and clear threats in the box. They all did a great job. I think Ronald (Araujo) was a warrior today, defending extremely well and playing a crucial role in the first goal. He won one challenge, then a second, before playing the pass. Although it won't count as a direct assist, that pass led to the goal. I'm really happy for him.