Florian Wirtz has just five goals and six assists since joining Liverpool last summer but Andoni Iraola maintains his performance levels have been high this term
Florian Wirtz of Liverpool looks on
Florian Wirtz of Liverpool looks on
Andoni Iraola insists Florian Wirtz cannot simply be judged by his stats at Liverpool after a mixed start to the season.
Wirtz has started in all four of Liverpool's games but is yet to find the net, notching just one assist in the draw with Nottingham Forest last month. That takes his tally to just six since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen at the start of last season, with Wirtz managing five goals.
Jamie Carragher has been among those to question Wirtz's performances in a red shirt following his big-money arrival, while Gary Neville suggested he 'wants to put a rocket up him'
He said: “I don’t see the tenacity in Wirtz in particular. I just see a nice player moving around the pitch, not really ever looking like he’s busting a gut to do anything.
“Now that can happen. Sometimes players have that flow about them, but I want to put a rocket up him. I want to put a rocket up him because there’s ability there, there’s talent there, the understanding of his position.”
But Iraola does not share those concerns and speaking ahead of Saturday's game against Fulham, he insisted performance levels will always outweigh statistics.
Andoni Iraola during a Liverpool training session.
Andoni Iraola during a Liverpool training session.(Image: Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images)
“Flo played very well against Atletico Madrid, and I also think he has been unlucky. I remember the goal he scored against Nottingham Forest. They gave it live, and then VAR disallowed it.
“He could have had very good assists but we haven’t finished them. That is why you cannot just play because of the numbers.
“Whether a striker scores a lot of goals or he doesn’t, 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.
Content Image
Content Image
“I am not too focused on 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 and I don’t care if it is the midfielders or forwards."
Iraola has concerns going into the game after Bradley Barcola suffered cramp in the win over Atletico Madrid in midweek while Cody Gakpo is also a doubt after missing that encounter.