Andoni Iraola has said he will play Florian Wirtz “behind a striker” at Liverpool and wants his wingers to be able to play on both sides.
Wirtz showed several glimpses of his incredible talent in his debut season at Anfield, but we never saw a consistent player who looked at his most confident.
Arne Slot used the 23-year-old most frequently as an attacking midfielder, but Wirtz also featured on the left 14 times across the campaign.
Iraola explained that he has a plan for the German, saying: “Obviously like all the players, but with Flo especially, we need a good version of Florian.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, April 25, 2026: Liverpool's Florian Wirtz speaks to the linesman during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“We know what he can give us, he’s also suited to our game model.
“I see him probably more that position behind the striker. We know that he was played more on the left sometimes but we are going to start working with in that position behind the striker.
“He is quite complete as a player. We want to try to add more things to what he already has which is very good. He is training in a good place mentally.”
The idea of Wirtz having a firm role where he can develop should be of benefit to the player.
At Bayer Leverkusen, where he built his £116 million reputation, Wirtz tended to play as the left attacker in Xabi Alonso’s 3-4-3 formation.
However, he was given lots of freedom to move into central positions with Alex Grimaldo overlapping down the left as a wing-back.
File photo dated 22-05-2024 of Florian Wirtz. Premier League champions Liverpool have agreed a club-record deal worth up to £116million to sign Florian Wirtz after Bayer Leverkusen finally settled on a fee for their playmaker. Issue date: Friday June 13, 2025.
Playing behind the striker for Iraola could suit Wirtz. It will allow him to stay around the edge of the penalty area, where he is most dangerous, and give him plenty of options on the ball.
The attacker joined back up with Liverpool’s squad last weekend and should feature for the first time under the new coach on Sunday, as the Reds face Leeds in Chicago.
Andoni Iraola wants wingers to be able to play on both sides
Aside from his comments on Wirtz, Iraola also said that he wants his wingers to be able to play on both flanks.
“Normally I try to encourage them to have the ability to play both sides,” he explained.
“I know some of them are more comfortable on one side but our team is not normally symmetric, so sometimes one of the wingers has to do more defensive work.
“Sometimes one has to play higher, one has to play more inside or outside, so if you can give me the option to put you both sides, selfishly it’s going to be easier for you to get minutes.”
This begins to allow us to understand why Liverpool appear to be targeting mainly right-footed wingers despite Mo Salah having been left-footed.
“I think it’s a great skill to have, because in the end you become less predictable,” Iraola added.
“I know, most of them have one preferred side, but maybe you are going to play there in 70 percent of their games or maybe we need you on the other side for some games.
“Because we want to exploit one match-up or we see there can be a weakness, something that tactically we can see.
“If you have the choose to play both sides it becomes better for you to get minutes and better for us because we can use better the squad.”
NEW YORK, USA - Wednesday, July 29, 2026: Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Wrexham AFC at Yankee Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Bradley Barcola, for whom the Reds are to bid big money, is also right-footed, but he has played on the right on occassion for Paris Saint-Germain, even if that isn’t necessarily his favoured position.
In Liverpool’s friendly against Wrexham, it was perhaps notable that Rio Ngumoha and Kieran Morrison came on to play the right and left wing, respectively.
Usually, they would play on the opposite flanks so they are able to cut inside onto their stronger feet.
Then again, this was pre-season and Iraola may have just wanted a look at how they get on in an unnatural spot.
All, or at least more, will become clear once the Premier League is underway.