15x possession lost: Andoni Iraola reveals one Liverpool player was ‘slow to get going’ in today’s game
Andoni Iraola admitted that one Liverpool player was slow to find his rhythm during their 1-0 win over Bournemouth on Sunday.
It was far from Liverpool’s most convincing display at the Vitality Stadium, but Alexander Isak’s 57th-minute strike proved decisive, giving the Reds all three points on Iraola’s return to his former club.
While Isak enjoyed a memorable moment after scoring the winning goal, Florian Wirtz endured a tougher afternoon. The German midfielder was taken off with around 20 minutes remaining, with Jamie Carragher suggesting on Sky Sports that he would have substituted him at half-time.
Iraola assesses Wirtz’s display
Speaking to Sky Sports after the final whistle, Iraola was asked about Wirtz’s performance. The Liverpool boss acknowledged that the 23-year-old struggled to get going early on but felt he improved significantly as the match progressed.
Iraola explained that Bournemouth began the game with plenty of intensity, making it difficult for Liverpool to settle into the contest.
However, he felt Wirtz gradually grew into the game and had a much stronger second half, finding better positions to receive the ball and turn.
Although Liverpool failed to create the final opportunity needed to add another goal, Iraola was clearly more satisfied with Wirtz’s contribution after the break than with his performance in the opening 45 minutes.
Wirtz endured a mixed outing against Bournemouth
Florian Wirtz’s performances at the start of the season have attracted criticism, with Steve Nicol even suggesting that the Liverpool midfielder should be left out of the starting lineup. Unfortunately for the German, his display against Bournemouth was another inconsistent one.
Wirtz was involved in an awkward first-half collision with Milos Kerkez, while his overall numbers painted a mixed picture.
– Passes completed: 26/37 (70%)
– Possession lost: 15 times from 57 touches
– Duels won: 6/8
– Key passes: 3
– Tackles: 3
To Wirtz’s credit, he played a role in the build-up to Alexander Isak’s winning goal, attempting a flick that helped set up the Swedish striker.
However, there will still be expectations for more from a player who cost Liverpool over £100m and has managed seven goals in 55 appearances for the club.
Like Liverpool as a team, Wirtz struggled during the opening half but showed improvement after the break, something Iraola also acknowledged following the match.
The 23-year-old will now have a short break before joining up with Germany for their UEFA Nations League fixtures in early October, following Jurgen Klopp’s decision to divide his squad into two groups during the international break.
