Iraola's Bournemouth team were held a remarkable 18 times in the Premier League last season, a league high by a comfortable distance. Over the course of his last 38 league games, Iraola has drawn 21 times, a joint record in the Premier League alongside Mark Hughes. This experience will undoubtedly come in handy as he faces his former club.
Iraola spent more than two hours debriefing Marco Rose, his successor at the Vitality Stadium, on the Bournemouth squad and staff in June. This knowledge will be crucial in helping him prepare his Liverpool team for the match. The 44-year-old knows full well that a draw with Liverpool is far more damaging to his current employer's aspirations than his previous one.
Iraola is still searching for balance and assessing his options at Liverpool, with changes in both full-back positions and central midfield. The Liverpool team's midfield balance is also under scrutiny, with Florian Wirtz following a good Champions League performance with an indifferent Premier League display. Iraola may spend the extended international break wrestling with some big calls depending on how his Bournemouth return unfolds.
The match against Bournemouth will be a test of Iraola's abilities as a manager, and it remains to be seen how his Liverpool team will perform.