Persistence may yet pay off for Liverpool.
Whether anyone likes it or not, Andoni Iraola is hell-bent on playing Florian Wirtz into form. Against Manchester City, it looked like a big mistake. The headlines pointed towards one outcome as he was outclassed by the Citizens. But still, Iraola persisted.
REUTERS/Phil Noble
A trip to LASK gave the Liverpool boss some hope, as Wirtz came away with an assist. Brentford away then came next - a place where even the bravest Premier League soldiers have fallen in battle. It seemed inevitable that the midfielder would be beaten and bullied for the umpteenth time.
Yet, still, Iraola persisted. And just like against LASK, the manager reaped the rewards, as Wirtz arguably enjoyed his best-ever game for Liverpool.
How Iraola finally got the best out of Wirtz
Yehor Yarmoliuk deserves to take some credit. After all, it was his headbutt and resulting red card that allowed Liverpool to mount a second-half comeback. But that should not deny Wirtz any credit. The German was excellent and finally took control of a frontline full of willing runners and star power.
The former Bayer Leverkusen star ended the day having created nine chances. For context, that's the most that a player has recorded in a single Premier League game across the last ten seasons since Sadio Mane against Burnley in 2021. Wirtz wasn't just impressive; he was record-breaking.
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Florian Wirtz vs Brentford
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Assists
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It's not just in possession that the big-money star put in the work, either. If there were any concerns that Wirtz couldn't keep up with Iraola's system, then they should be put to bed after he covered more distance than anyone on the pitch against Brentford.
Critics claimed that he could not battle and could not compete in the Premier League. It looked like they were right, too; the German has struggled for the majority of his Anfield career. But his display at the G-tech has offered more hope than ever that Liverpool have, indeed, got a world-class No.10 on their hands.
Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra
If that is the case, however, then it'll be good news for all but one person in the Liverpool ranks.
Wirtz revival can end star's Liverpool career
A new era at Liverpool is bound to result in some casualties. Iraola has already dropped Jeremie Frimpong for Ronald Araujo after the Dutchman's poor start to the campaign, and there are still question marks around Milos Kerkez on the other side. Changes look inevitable.
The core of Iraola's side is also beginning to form. Jeremy Jacquet looks like one of the signings of the season, Alexander Isak is one of the most important players at the club, Bradley Barcola has shown early signs of his quality and Wirtz could yet salvage his Anfield career.
Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
That core will benefit Liverpool, but it should also spell the end for Harvey Elliott. The Liverpool midfielder, who is on loan at Valencia, is unlikely to play for the club again if Wirtz continues to receive the backing of Iraola.
The 23-year-old is a strange case. In many ways, he was the player who suffered the most after Jurgen Klopp's exit.
It became clear from the off that Arne Slot simply didn't want to make room for Elliott, shipping him out on loan to Aston Villa. On paper, it was a good loan move for the midfielder. In reality, it was an absolute disaster.
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Villa's finances meant that they did not want to trigger the clause to sign Elliott permanently and, as such, he struggled for minutes in the Premier League.
When he returned to Liverpool in the summer, however, it should have been a fresh start. Elliott had the new manager in Iraola and one who, as proved this season, is more than willing to give young players a chance. It was the perfect route back in for the young star.
Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
After returning to pre-season overweight, to say that he didn't take that route would be a major understatement and he soon found himself out on loan at Valencia.
Now, with his contract coming to an end in 2028 and the No.10 spot unlikely to be available ahead of Wirtz anytime soon, the writing is on the wall for Elliott's Anfield career.