Liverpool manager, Andoni Iraola, has defended Florian Wirtz following criticism of the German midfielder after Sunday’s 1-0 Premier League victory over Bournemouth.
Liverpool secured the win at the Vitality Stadium through Alexander Isak’s goal, with the result extending their unbeaten run and moving them up to sixth in the Premier League table.
However, Wirtz’s performance attracted criticism from former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, who questioned the midfielder’s place in the team and called on Iraola to leave him out of the starting XI.
Speaking on his podcast on Sky Sports, Carragher said, “I think going forward Iraola’s got a decision to make here. Wirtz would not be in my Liverpool team. I thought this Bournemouth game was a big game for Wirtz, because if he doesn’t produce, he’s then going to have a three-week break. By the time we come back, we’re into October. Before you know it, it’ll be Christmas in six to eight weeks, or it’ll feel like we’re getting to Christmas. He has to do something!”
Carragher added,
“Wirtz wouldn’t be in my Liverpool team. Manchester City at home [on 11 October], for me, he can’t be in the team.”
Liverpool journalist David Lynch also criticised Wirtz’s display, writing on X, “Florian Wirtz is putting in the sort of performance that justifies every criticism of him during his time at Liverpool. I’m always an advocate for giving players time, but he can’t keep throwing in games like this, even if he isn’t quite this bad most weeks.”
Iraola, however, backed the midfielder and said he improved significantly after the interval.
“He started the game slowly, I agree. The first minute they went quite intense, and we were not quite with us,” Iraola told Sky Sports.
“The duels in the middle. After that first phase, I think we improved. Florian has helped us also to improve.
“Second half, he was playing much better; he was finding better spots to receive and turn. Probably we haven’t found the last part or moment to score, but I think I’m much happier with his second half than his first one.”
Iraola was also pleased with Liverpool’s overall performance despite their difficult start against Bournemouth.
“I’m obviously happy with the result. I know it’s a difficult place to come from, a very difficult place to get three points,” he said.
“We could see in the game, at the beginning, in the first 20 minutes, we weren’t at the level in the game, and it has cost us until afterwards, where we finished the first half better.
“The second half we played better. But that beginning of the game kind of – not surprised us because we knew where we were coming to – but it was difficult for us.
“We could see a bit later, when Bournemouth started to get tired, that in the second half we controlled the game much better. We even had chances to finish but didn’t score the second one. But in that first part of the game, we were not winning duels, second balls and when they play with this intensity, you have to be at their level.”
