LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 12, 2026: Liverpool's Florian Wirtz walks out before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield. The game ended in a goal-less draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 12, 2026: Liverpool's Florian Wirtz walks out before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield. The game ended in a goal-less draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Andoni Iraola believes Florian Wirtz “should be judged like everyone else,” agreeing with Jurgen Klopp’s verdict on the Liverpool and Germany playmaker.
Klopp gave a typically sensible stance on Wirtz’s situation at Liverpool when revealing an expanded Germany squad for the international break on Thursday.
With debate raging over the output from a player signed for £116 million, the former Reds manager insisted: “We have to move away from expecting to see special moments from him.”
Instead, the focus is on Wirtz’s role within the team itself, which Iraola reinforced in his pre-Bournemouth press conference.
“He should be judged like everyone else,” the Liverpool head coach said.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 29, 2026: Liverpool's Víctor Muñoz celebrates on his debut with team-mates Dominik Szoboszlai, Florian Wirtz and Kostas Tsimikas after scoring his side's second and equalising goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 29, 2026: Liverpool's Víctor Muñoz celebrates on his debut with team-mates Dominik Szoboszlai, Florian Wirtz and Kostas Tsimikas after scoring his side's second and equalising goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“If he plays well, if he doesn’t play well, I always say ‘how does the team play when you are on the pitch?’.
“And I’m very happy with Florian. I rate him very highly.
“He understands what we need from him, he’s trying to help in every aspect of the game.
“Obviously he will want also to add assists and goals, but he’s helping us in a lot of different areas.
“We could give him some rest the other day, which I think he needed, because he’s making a good effort in the games.”
There is certainly an argument that, given his price tag and the way in which Liverpool have built their system around him, more should be expected of Wirtz than his seven goals and 11 assists in 54 games so far.
He has only managed one assist in five appearances in the current campaign, but his all-round effort cannot be faulted.
Sunderland’s Thomas Meunier (12.2km) is the only player to average more distanced covered per 90 minutes than Wirtz (12km) in this season’s Premier League.
“The willingness is absolutely there,” was Klopp’s take on the situation.
What Jurgen Klopp said on the Florian Wirtz debate
Newly appointed head coach of the German national soccer team Juergen Klopp attends a news conference at the headquarters of the German Football Association DFB in Frankfurt, Germany, Friday, July 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
Newly appointed head coach of the German national soccer team Juergen Klopp attends a news conference at the headquarters of the German Football Association DFB in Frankfurt, Germany, Friday, July 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
“He needs to help us as a team. We have to make sure that Flo feels comfortable with us,” Klopp explained.
“When the team works, then every player shines as a consequence.
“We need to be satisfied when Flo plays a game in which he gave everything but didn’t register a goal or assist.
“We simply need to give the boy the feeling: ‘That was more than good enough today. You helped us as a team, we won 1–0 or 2–0’.
“And then all the experts in the world sit there and discuss why he still hasn’t worked out. There are just as many reasons to say: ‘He’s working perfectly well’.”
Football – Football League Cup – 3rd Round – Liverpool FC v Tottenham Hotspur FC
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 15, 2026: Liverpool's Ronald Araújo drinks from a plastic Lucozade bottle before the Football League Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield. Liverpool won 3-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
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