Andoni Iraola has revealed the advantage Liverpool have over Bournemouth ahead of this weekend’s Premier League clash.
Having left Bournemouth to become Liverpool head coach during the summer, Sunday will mark Iraola’s first return to the Vitality Stadium.
In the corresponding fixture last season, the Spaniard oversaw a 3-2 win for the Cherries as Amine Adli scored a 95th minute winner to extend their unbeaten home run to three games.
It was Bournemouth’s strong form at home for the remainder of the campaign that ultimately lead to their best ever season in the Premier League, finishing sixth and qualifying for European football for the first time in their history.
As such, Marco Rose’s side will have to manage the Thursday-Sunday balance over the course of this season.
While Bournemouth beat Real Sociedad in their Europa League debut, they will have less days rest than Liverpool - who were in action against Tottenham on Tuesday night.
Speaking ahead of an emotional reunion with his former employers, Iraola does believe Liverpool being the fresher of the two teams is an advantage.
"Yes. I think we have an advantage,” Iraola told reporters. “Most of the time it has been the opposite, we are the team that have played the last, this time we played two days before they played, even though we also played midweek.
“There should be an advantage there.
"But also, I know where we are going and I know the stats they have there. Not only at the stadium, but overall. I think you see all the games they've lost in a long while, you realise how difficult it is to beat Bournemouth.
“But I suppose also I have the advantage that I know them very well. And they have the advantage that they know me very well, so, you never know who is with more advantage in that sense."
I think you see all the games they've lost in a long while, you realise how difficult it is to beat Bournemouth
Andoni Iraola
On returning to the Vitality Stadium, Iraola added: "I think in the personal side I'm really looking forward to meeting and hugging them, players that I love, staff that I have worked with that I appreciate so much.
“I was pushing for them yesterday when they were playing their first European game. I wish them all the best.
"But there is another part that is the most important one right now. That we need to go there and win and beat them and be as ruthless as possible. And leave all the talking for after the game."
