Florian Wirtz has begun to give Liverpool the return they expected when they paid €125 million for him, with three successive displays offering Andoni Iraola a little more control, craft and end product in a season that had threatened to become an uncomfortable one for the German.
In the dressing room
Iraola’s first priority on taking charge at Anfield was to get more from Wirtz. The former Bayer Leverkusen man arrived with the weight of a major fee and a fine reputation, having helped Xabi Alonso’s side to the German league, cup and Super Cup. Yet seven goals and 10 assists from 49 appearances in his opening Liverpool campaign did not entirely settle the argument.
The manager had made clear that he sees Wirtz chiefly behind the centre-forward, rather than permanently from the left. “We need Florian at his best,” Iraola said. “He suits our way of playing and he is a very complete player. We want to add to qualities which are already very good.”
There was sharper criticism after Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City. Jamie Carragher said the side had struggled both to create chances and to score, the very reasons Wirtz had been brought in. He stressed that he did not want the player singled out, but said Liverpool needed more from their No 10.
Speculation naturally followed. Chelsea were linked with a move, while Oliver Bierhoff suggested that Wirtz would fit well alongside Hansi Flick at Barcelona, where he would have room and technically gifted team-mates around him.
Steven Gerrard took the more patient line. The Liverpool great accepted that the midfielder had fallen short of expectations for a player of his price, but argued that his talent and occasional flashes in red were grounds to keep faith rather than rush towards a sale.
Wirtz’s recent return
| Match | Result | Wirtz contribution |
|---|---|---|
| LASK Linz v Liverpool | 3-6 | Assist for Bradley Barcola |
| Brentford v Liverpool | 1-2 | Assist for Víctor Muñoz |
| Liverpool v Villarreal | 4-3 | Scored Liverpool’s fourth after replacing Araujo at half-time |
The international break, during which Wirtz was included in Jürgen Klopp’s first Germany squad, appears to have helped. In the three matches following the City defeat he has supplied two assists and scored once.
His Villarreal goal also ended a 178-day wait for a Liverpool goal, dating back to 25 April and the 3-1 win over Crystal Palace. Against Brentford, meanwhile, he created nine chances from open play. No Liverpool player had managed as many in a single match since Sadio Mané in 2021.
Iraola said the scrutiny has been relentless, with Wirtz’s every performance examined closely, but felt it was only fair to recognise the improvement. The manager pointed to three good games in a row, praising the midfielder’s ability to bring control and energy, with and without possession.
Daniel Sturridge also highlighted the work behind the headline numbers. The former Liverpool forward said the data showed Wirtz had been the side’s hardest-working player, and that those efforts were now beginning to show in goals and assists. For a player signed at such expense to play as the central creator, those are the figures supporters will always look for.
The week ahead is less about declaring the matter solved than maintaining the rhythm. Liverpool have seen what Wirtz can do when he is moving the ball, pressing and arriving in dangerous areas; Iraola’s task now is to make those three matches feel like the start of the player’s Anfield story rather than a brief interruption to the debate.
