Liverpool's Florian Wirtz has provided just one assist in the Premier League this season and had a game to forget against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday
Andoni Iraola has reacted to Sunday's result
Andoni Iraola has reacted to Sunday's result(Image: Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola has defended Florian Wirtz after another disappointing performance from the German midfielder.
Wirtz started Liverpool's 1-0 victory at Bournemouth on Sunday and struggled to impose himself on the game. While he was involved during the build-up to Alexander Isak's winning goal, Liverpool's No. 7 was substituted by Iraola just after the 70-minute mark.
Wirtz, who also made a slow start to last season, now has just one assist from his first five Premier League games this term. Iraola was asked about the former Bayer Leverkusen star's form after Sunday's match at the Vitality Stadium, while speaking to Sky Sports.
"It was a slow start, but after the first phase, Florian helped us to improve, and I am much happier with his performance in the second half," said Iraola.
Liverpool's victory at Bournemouth, Iraola's former club, has pushed the Reds up to sixth in the Premier League table. The Spanish coach has picked up nine points from his first five games in charge of the Anfield club.
"I'm obviously happy with the result because I know this is a difficult place to come," added Iraola.
Florian Wirtz struggled on Sunday
Florian Wirtz struggled on Sunday(Image: Getty Images)
"We finished the first half better and were better in the second half. It was difficult for us (at the start). Second half, we controlled, much better, the game and had the chances to finish it.
"But in the first part of the game, we were not winning second balls, and when they play with such intensity, you have to be at that level."
Liverpool's defense has now kept three consecutive clean sheets in the Premier League, although the Reds are struggling to create clear-cut chances offensively.
Iraola added: "Overall, as a team, it's a third clean sheet in a row. Still things to improve, but they are giving us solidity in the moments we need to defend."
Liverpool boasts a new-look defense this season, with Ronald Araujo making the right-back position his own and Jeremy Jacquet partnering Virgil van Dijk in the middle.
Speaking about Jacquet, Van Dijk told Sky Sports: "I think he has shown a lot of good things so far this season. Still so young, a lot to learn and a lot to give. Let's keep it going."
Van Dijk continued: "It's very important for us to get goals, Alexander Isak included. It was good win here, a clean sheet, and we go to the international break before bracing ourselves for a very intense period.
"Hopefully, (this team can be) very good. Let's all stay calm and keep working and not get ahead of ourselves. This was an important win at a difficult ground. We could have done a lot better, but we come away with the three points and clean sheet."