ANDONI Iraola believes last weekend’s narrow defeat to Chelsea was his side’s best performance so far this season, despite the result.

AFC Bournemouth fell to a late defeat just four minutes from time as Christopher Nkuku struck a late blow and took all three points for the visitors.

Speaking to the media ahead of Cherries’ trip to Liverpool, Iraola said, reflecting on last weekend’s game, that he and his team are very pleased with how the team performed.

“I think we gave us our options to obtain points and to try to win the game against Chelsea,” he said.

“Unluckily for us, we didn't take our chances, and we finished losing the game.

“But if you ask me, probably it's the best game we played, [or] maybe against Newcastle.

“Both games we played at home for me have been very good and we have to do a lot of the same things and improving the things that at the end decide the games.”

Cherries missed a huge opportunity to open up a 1-0 lead in the first half as summer signing Evanilson saw his penalty saved by Robert Sanchez in the Chelsea net.

Asked if Iraola had spoken to the club-record signing, who is yet to score for Bournemouth, about keeping his confidence up after the miss, the Basque boss said he had but that Evanilson was used to it.

“He has been taking penalties before. He has missed before,” Iraola said.

“I've missed penalties also in my career.

“I know how you feel when you miss a penalty, but you have to try not to change your confidence, your attitude.

“I think it's part of the job. Sometimes the keepers make a big mistake and you have to continue focusing the next play and don't try to change anything.

“In this scenario, I think it's the same think in the next one, try to forgot about it and continue performing well, is what I would suggest to him.”