Liverpool won 1-0 at Bournemouth on Sunday, with Alexander Isak scoring the only goal in the 57th minute.
The win came on Andoni Iraola’s return to the Vitality Stadium, where he spent three seasons as Bournemouth manager.
It was Isak’s fourth goal of the season, after good work from Cody Gakpo in the build-up.
Liverpool have now kept three consecutive Premier League clean sheets, the first time they have done so since September 2024.
Bournemouth managed 0.76 expected goals and two shots on target. Liverpool are unbeaten in their first five league matches.
Iraola said his side struggled in the opening 20 minutes, when they failed to win second balls or match Bournemouth’s intensity.
He said Liverpool improved as the game went on, adding: “definitely since the first games.”
The first half was especially difficult for Florian Wirtz.
His passing accuracy of 63 per cent was the lowest of any Liverpool player in that period. The next lowest was 75 per cent, shared by Isak and Milos Kerkez.
He created three chances, more than any other player at the Vitality Stadium, and won six of his eight ground duels.
Wirtz has one assist from Liverpool’s first five Premier League games this season. It came in the 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest, when he set up Víctor Munoz’s 82nd-minute equaliser.
Iraola substituted Wirtz shortly after the 70th minute. The Liverpool head coach told Sky Sports: “He started the game slowly, I agree.”
He was happier with Wirtz’s second half, when he found better spots to receive and turn. Wirtz was involved in the build-up to Isak’s goal.
Jamie Carragher, who was on Sky Sports co-commentary duty, criticised Wirtz during the first half. “It’s just nothing. Nothing is happening there at all,” he said.
On the bonus Jamie Carragher Podcast, he called it one of the poorest performances he has seen from Wirtz in a Liverpool shirt.
He said Wirtz would not be in his Liverpool team. For the home game against Manchester City, Carragher said, “he can’t be in the team.”
Carragher called Bournemouth a big game for Wirtz, because a three-week break followed it. He said the gap Wirtz must close to justify the expectations placed on him may now be too big.
“The gap he’s got to get to almost justify what people were expecting, I almost think is too big. You can’t get there. Even if he improves a bit and gets there, it’s still not what Liverpool thought they were getting.”
Carragher added that when Wirtz plays at number 10, Dominik Szoboszlai has to move into central midfield. He does not see Szoboszlai as a central midfielder.
“And it’s not just Wirtz, it’s the knock-on effect. So when he plays at No. 10, it means Dominik Szoboszlai has to play central midfield. I don’t think Szoboszlai is a central-midfield player; I don’t.”
Liverpool host Manchester City on Sunday 11 October. They then travel to Brentford on Saturday 17 October and host Brighton on Saturday 24 October.
Arsenal visit Anfield on Sunday 1 November, also live on Sky Sports. Liverpool have kept three consecutive Premier League clean sheets, the first time they have done so since September 2024.
Carragher believes Iraola has a big decision to make and says Wirtz should not be in the team against Manchester City after the international break.
“I think going forward, Iraola’s got a decision to make here. Wirtz would not be in my Liverpool team.”
“Wirtz wouldn’t be in my Liverpool team. Manchester City at home; for me, he can’t be in the team.”
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