Andoni Iraola smiles while addressing his players during a Liverpool training sessions at the AXA Training Centre
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Linz, Austria – October 14: Bradley Barcola of Liverpool FC celebrates after scoring his teams fifth Goal during the UEFA Champions League 2026/2027 match between LASK and Liverpool at Oberösterreich Arena on October 14, 2026 in Linz, Austria.
FBL-EUR-C1-LASK-LIVERPOOL
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Liverpool’s Champions League player ratings vs LASK as Bradley Barcola runs riot in Linz](https://www.rousingthekop.com/2026/10/14/liverpools-champions-league-player-ratings-vs-lask-as-reds-run-riot-in-linz/)
Trey Nyoni pictured on the ball during Liverpool's UEFA Champions League match against LASK
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Bradley Barcola pictured after scoring for Liverpool during their UEFA Champions League match against LASK Linz
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Cody Gakpo pictured in action during Liverpool's Premier League match against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium
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LASK v Liverpool FC - UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD2
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LASK v Liverpool FC - UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD2
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Steven Gerrard says there are two reasons he can see why Florian Wirtz is struggling for Liverpool
Florian Wirtz reacts during Liverpool's UEFA Champions League match against LASK Linz
Photo by Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images
Florian Wirtz delivered a better performance for Liverpool on Wednesday as he finally claimed a second assist of the season against LASK.
The German has been in the spotlight in recent weeks, with big question marks beginning to form over his suitability in the Reds’ current set-up. Jamie Carragher has been vocally critical of Wirtz, and though he answered back to some extent in midweek, the concerns over his performances – and why they are so poor – will not disappear.
Steven Gerrard tends to be slightly more pragmatic than Carragher when it comes to giving his views on Liverpool, though, and the former captain has claimed that Wirtz‘s struggles are simply a case of the 23-year-old being short on confidence as he tries to live up to his price tag.
Here's our player ratings! Who deserves higher or, perhaps, even lower? 🤔
### Liverpool’s Champions League player ratings vs LASK as Bradley Barcola runs riot in Linz
@martywebb777 Both played well to be fair, although poor for the goals, especially Frimpong. Can't knock them too much on a night where they got four assists and a goal between them. Just thought the organisation completely went from the defence, and that is on Virgil really. Gomez took a stray because the drop off coincided with him coming on as well!
strange that our 2 full backs who couldn't defend if their lives depended on it, get off scott free, unlike Vab Dijk and Gomez, who only came on late, and actually know how to defend...
Rio, Koumas and Barcola all deserve to go up a number in my opinion, was a top class display up there, didn’t give that defence a second to relax
Confidence is Wirtz’s main issue – Gerrard
One of Wirtz’s worst displays so far came on Sunday against Manchester City, when he failed to make any kind of impact on the game. Worse than that, the No. 7 kept giving simple passes away, something which has become a feature of his game at Liverpool.
According to Gerrard, this is a confidence problem. Speaking on Stick To Football on Thursday, the Scouser suggested that if Andoni Iraola can get Wirtz feeling like himself again, then he will solve the issue entirely.
“I’m not denying that he’s underperforming and that we should have seen an awful lot more in terms of the price tag and what have you, but I just think that there’s a chance, and it’s happened previously, where players can turn it round. I think he’s got the talent to turn it round,” Gerrard said.
“His confidence is shot at Liverpool at the moment. You can see it when you watch him live. He’s giving the ball away, simple balls that he wouldn’t give away. I think at times he’s maybe not shown [for the ball] when normally he’s full of confidence.”
“I watch him for Germany, a different player, completely different player,” the former captain added. “He just seems to be playing with his shoulders back, different energy, getting on the ball. He’s turning in pockets of space. He’s actually executing in the final third in terms of his passes.
“You’ve seen it at Leverkusen. I know it’s a different level, but you’re watching a different player. I think it’s confidence and the price tag.”
If it is largely a confidence issue, as Gerrard seems convinced that it is, then the appointment of Jurgen Klopp at Germany really should help.
Klopp has already put his arm around Wirtz and made him captain of a young team during his first break as boss of the national team, and the former Liverpool manager could be just what the attacking midfielder needs.
Confidence is a difficult thing to gain and a brittle thing to break, though, and while Klopp and his display against LASK can pick him up to a degree, Wirtz needs to look within himself and get back to his former levels. If he cannot, his time at Liverpool may not last for much longer.