Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola wants Alexander Isak to raise his level

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/isak-alexander/p41IV42c/"]Isak[/a] settled [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/bournemouth-OtpNdwrc/liverpool-lId4TMwf/?mid=joCde00k"]a hard-fought clash[/a] with his fourth Premier League goal of the season in the second half at the Vitality Stadium.[/p][p]Plagued by injuries and a significant loss of form, Isak netted just three times in the top-flight in the 2025/26 campaign following his acrimonious £125 million ($167 million) move from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/newcastle-utd/p6ahwuwJ/"]Newcastle[/a].[/p][p]The Sweden star has already scored more goals in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/liverpool/lId4TMwf/"]Liverpool[/a]'s first five league matches this season than he did across the whole of last term.[/p][p]But demanding Reds boss [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/iraola-andoni/xpALVpwq/"]Iraola[/a] still wants more from Isak as he looks to turn Liverpool's spells of dominance into more regular goal sprees.[/p][p]"He took the chance after a quiet afternoon – and that's what a striker's job is like," Iraola said.[/p][image alt="Isak wasn't at his best despite his goal" id="90a0bcd8-00d6-445f-9db8-b882f625e636" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="e4124de4-0d88-4715-814f-206c87d13be5" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p]"[b]He had a couple of situations, a cross he didn't hit properly, one when his control wasn't right and then the goal[/b].[/p][p]"[b]But he has to help us to be closer to the box, to play in the opposition half and to have meaningful possession[/b].[/p][p]"[b]Then, if the team is playing there, he will receive the rewards in terms of goals. We need that level so that we can play better[/b]."[/p][p]Iraola left [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bournemouth/OtpNdwrc/"]Bournemouth[/a] for Anfield after three seasons with the Cherries, capped off by leading the club to a maiden European berth last season.[/p][p]Liverpool had enjoyed two more days of rest than the hosts, who beat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-sociedad/jNvak2f3/"]Real Sociedad[/a] in San Sebastian on Thursday to open their Europa League campaign with a victory.[/p][p]But they struggled to impose themselves for long periods of Iraola's homecoming before Isak made the breakthrough in the 57th minute.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gakpo-cody/pWyuBud0/"]Cody Gakpo[/a]'s cross was intended for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wirtz-florian/0Q5gjImi/"]Florian Wirtz[/a], who could not connect under pressure, but Bournemouth failed to deal with the cross and Isak pounced to sweep home.[/p][embed guid="5d420e97-836b-42ab-aa3d-553f98d12c39" url="https://x.com/LFC/status/2101689605313470719" social-type="twitter" /][p]"[b]I was disappointed with the first 20, 25 minutes. I think we didn't start the game with the intensity it requires[/b]," Iraola said.[/p][p]"To win here is very difficult, I know it very well. Normally Bournemouth starts really strong, and it took us this 20, 25 minutes until we matched a little bit this level.[/p][p]"[b]From there I think at the end of the first half and the second half we played better. Better situations with the ball, and we could win the game[/b]."[/p]