Florian Wirtz of Liverpool
Florian Wirtz of Liverpool(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
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Andoni Iraola believes Florian Wirtz is the key to unlocking the "new weapons" in Liverpool's attack - and isn't bothered about the numbers delivered by the Germany international.
Wirtz has had a steady start to the season having been told by Iraola he will be the preferred number 10 option under the new Reds head coach.
The 23-year-old, who joined in a potential £116million deal from Bayer Leverkusen last summer, claimed an assist for summer arrival Victor Munoz's equaliser against Nottingham Forest a fortnight ago and against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday demonstrated signs of an understanding with £123m new capture Bradley Barcola.
And with Liverpool's revamped forward line further bolstered by a fully-fit Alexander Isak, in-form Cody Gakpo and the ongoing emergence of teenager Rio Ngumoha, Iraola is adamant Wirtz will be an integral cog.
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"There is an argument to make that the wingers have changed more than anywhere else with Bradley and Victor," said the Reds boss, whose side entertain Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon. "They have new weapons that we can use. With Florian, he is key for us.
"But I am not worried because he can play very well in the game. He will quickly learn where Victor prefers the ball or where Bradley prefers the ball.
"And, also, Bradley in just his second game you could see they already had a good association. I am not very worried."
Wirtz's performance in the 2-1 Champions League win over Atletico proved divisive, despite the German covering more distance than any other player on the pitch and only Dominik Szoboszlai having more touches or key passes for Liverpool.
And while with only one assist this season, Wirtz played an important part in the build-up to two other goals and had a strike disallowed against Forest for a marginal offside, while a number of good chances he has created, such as for Barcola in midweek, have been spurned.
"He played very well against Atletico Madrid," said Iraola. "He helped us a lot, also he was very good on the ball and overall I was very happy with his performance.
"The game against Ipswich in the second half he lost more balls than normal but overall I have been very happy with his performances.
"He is a good player out of possession who helps us in our press. But he runs the same as the 10 of Arsenal, the 10 of (Manchester) City, the 10 of Fulham and more or less his stats are very similar to the number 10s other teams have.
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"I agree (he has been unlucky). I remember the ‘goal’ he scored against Nottingham Forest, he could have had very good assists but we haven’t finished them.
"But that is why you cannot just play because of the numbers. Whether a striker scores a lot of goals or he doesn’t score a lot of goals, you have to look at the performances. Does he help us to play well? Yes.
"Well, someone will score the goals and someone will give the assists. It is not that because you had the last touch, you played better than the other person.
"I am not too focused about numbers. Nowadays everything is about numbers, everyone tells players you have to assist, you have to score goals. For me, you have to help us play well. Someone will score the goals if we are doing well collectively."
Iraola also revealed what he told Wirtz during his initial conversations with the player following his elimination from the World Cup with Germany earlier in the summer.
"I saw him as a 10 but also someone who can help us in other positions, but I prefer him as a number 10," said the Liverpool boss. "Then I told him a little bit how the team was going to play.
"He is an easy to maintain player. Sometimes you have to speak to players a lot but Flo is very professional. He is very focused every day, he trains well.
"He doesn’t need me to be on him because he does the basics very well. There is more to come from every player and I hope we improve every player. But I am happy with what he has given in these games."