Iraola admits he did not want to draw Bournemouth in Carabao Cup quarters

Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola admitted Bournemouth were the one team he wanted to avoid in the Carabao Cup quarter-final draw after his side edged past Chelsea on penalties.

Iraola will now face his former club in the last eight after progressing past Xabi Alonso’s side in a shoot-out.

“Honestly, I was talking before the draw and I said the only team that I don’t want is Bournemouth,” Iraola said.

“For me it’s special, but they know me very well. They are playing very well lately, in a good moment, but it is what it is.

“We haven’t been very lucky with the draw. We played Spurs, Chelsea already, now Bournemouth, and that is going to be obviously special for me.

“But we have to earn the right to be in the semi-finals and I hope we can do it here at home again.”

Iraola was also pleased with the way Liverpool’s supporters helped his side through a fiercely contested match at Anfield.

“I think they are feeling the support of the ones in the stands and I think when we are all together we create a better atmosphere,” he said.

“Even starting losing, I think there was a, ‘Let’s go, come on’, a lot of the players have given us very good help.

“I think now it is like the third game at home where we finish with good feelings and we have another big one on Sunday.

“Let’s try to finish this four in a row that we had at home in the best way.”