Florian Wirtz knows that more is required of him in the final third, but he is enjoying life under Andoni Iraola so far, and believes Liverpool is heading in the right direction
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 09: Florian Wirtz of Liverpool during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Liverpool FC and Atletico de Madrid at Anfield on September 09, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Florian Wirtz will be hoping for a better second season at Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
Liverpool attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz says he is capable of offering more in the final third under Andoni Iraola — but the German is content with the way things are going so far.
Iraola's style is more intense than Arne Slot's, and the Liverpool players are still getting up to speed with the exact demands being placed on them. This weekend, they head to Bournemouth hoping to secure a second victory in the Premier League before the three-week-long international break.
"I think (Iraola) has made his ideas very clear from the start," Wirtz told club media. "I feel that the team understands it more and more and we just make it better every week and in every game.
"I think it's going in a good direction. I think we had a few games where we could have scored more goals to win the game.
"I have also the expectations for myself to decide games. We need me and the attackers to finish the games off, so we definitely try to work on that."
Midweek, Liverpool knocked Tottenham out of the Carabao Cup to secure a place in the next round. Wirtz was given a rest, but he is expected to come back into the starting XI at the Vitality Stadium.
Florian Wirtz of Liverpool in action against Fulham.
Florian Wirtz of Liverpool in action against Fulham.(Image: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
"I played I think one time over there (vs Bournemouth) and it was already hard," Wirtz added.
"My teammates told me before it's going to be a hard game but there are quite a lot [of those] in the league. It will be an intense game.
"We have to be very ready. I think the manager knows them really well so maybe there's a small advantage we have — but we have to be ready and very focused for this game."
Sunday's fixture on the south coast will be the first time that Iraola has returned to Bournemouth since he departed. Earlier this week, the Cherries won their first match in Europe, emerging victorious in Sociedad.
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"On the personal side, I’m really looking forward to meeting them, to hug them, it’s players that I love, staff that I have been working with, that I appreciate so much," Iraola said on Friday.
"I was pushing for them yesterday when they were playing their first European game, and I wish them all the best.
"But there is another part and that is the most important one right now: we need to go there and beat them and be as ruthless as possible. And leave all the talks for after the game."
Liverpool.com says: Wirtz has all the attributes that are needed to become a world-class player, but he needs to show that a lot more often. The game at Bournemouth, though it will be tough, should involve spaces for him to counter-attack in. The German will need to make the most of them.