Iraola backs Wirtz as Liverpool demand more from injury-hit attack
Published: 2026-10-13 00:00:00
Andoni Iraola has publicly backed Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola while calling on the rest of Liverpool’s attack to take responsibility for goals during the absence of the club’s leading scorers.
Liverpool travel to face LASK in the Champions League on Wednesday without Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai. Iraola said he could not give a return date for the trio, who are dealing with minor injuries picked up on international duty.
Both Wirtz and Barcola struggled in Sunday’s loss to Manchester City, Liverpool’s first defeat under Iraola. Barcola has yet to record a goal or assist in six appearances since joining from Paris Saint-Germain, while Wirtz has one assist this season, according to the reports.
“With Bradley and Flo, they have had good games and bad games this season like everyone else,” Iraola said. “We know their level and we know they will give us good performances.”
The manager argued that statistics can obscure a player’s contribution, pointing to a chance Lewis Koumas nearly converted from a Barcola delivery. “Bradley and Flo are players that I trust 100%,” he said.
Pressure builds on Wirtz
That support comes as debate intensifies over whether Wirtz should be left out of the side. The BBC report said the Germany international had managed one assist across seven league and Champions League appearances this season, after registering seven goals and 11 assists in 56 Liverpool appearances since his move.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher called for Wirtz to be dropped after the City match, arguing Liverpool needed more from the playmaker in creating chances and contributing defensively. Steven Warnock likewise questioned the midfielder’s influence, while former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard urged patience and support for a player he considers a major talent.
The reports contrasted Wirtz’s return with that of Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki, who joined from Lyon in June 2025. The BBC cited 16 goals and 18 assists in 65 City appearances for Cherki, including a goal in City’s 3-0 victory at Anfield.
Iraola said Liverpool’s response to Ryan Gravenberch’s dismissal had also contributed to the defeat. He felt conceding soon after going down to 10 men made it harder to reorganise, leaving the side caught between protecting its shape and pushing forward.
With Liverpool facing a crowded schedule and several players carrying knocks from the City game, Iraola indicated he was likely to make changes for the trip to Linz. Virgil van Dijk is in line to captain the side for the 200th time in all competitions.
Wirtz’s best showing of the campaign, the BBC report noted, came against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League. Iraola maintained that the 23-year-old has had good performances as well as poor ones, and stressed that he wants to assess the team collectively rather than judge individuals solely by goals and assists.