Florian Wirtz of Liverpool during the pre-season friendly match Liverpool vs Monaco at Anfield, Liverpool, United Kingdom on 09 August 2026 (Photo by Jorge Horsted/News Images)
Florian Wirtz of Liverpool during the pre-season friendly match Liverpool vs Monaco at Anfield, Liverpool, United Kingdom on 09 August 2026 (Photo by Jorge Horsted/News Images)
Liverpool’s 2–0 win over Brighton gave Andoni Iraola his first Premier League victory at Anfield and lifted the Reds to fourth in the table.
In his post-match comments, though, Iraola spent as much time talking about Florian Wirtz’s influence as he did about the result.
The German had spent the week hearing that Liverpool had failed to get the best out of him, and on Sunday he gave a strong reply before an ankle problem cut his afternoon short.
“It is not just about the numbers.”
“It is about being better with him on the pitch,” Iraola said, praising a player whose contribution goes beyond what the stats sheet shows.
He then gave an update that will be watched closely ahead of a busy week, “Unfortunately, he had to leave the pitch with a small twist of the ankle.”
“It doesn’t look big, but we’ll see.”
It was Wirtz who broke the deadlock in the 17th minute.
Ronald Araujo’s cross from the right was only half-cleared, Wirtz pounced on the loose ball, and his low strike flew past Bart Verbruggen after a deflection off Pascal Groß, who was credited with the own goal.
Four minutes later Bradley Barcola set up Alexander Isak for a close-range finish, and Liverpool had built the platform for a clean sheet against a side that had won their previous four league games 15–0.
Earlier in the week, Bayern Munich honorary president Uli Hoeneß claimed Liverpool “haven’t integrated him properly at all”, arguing that Wirtz “got every ball” at Leverkusen but is “just one of many” at Anfield.
Iraola’s comments read like a direct response, and there is evidence to back him up.
Wirtz arrived at the weekend as the Premier League’s leading chance creator this season, with 20 chances. He also scored in Tuesday’s 4–3 comeback win over Villarreal, and seven of his eight Liverpool goals have now come at Anfield.
The concern is what happens next. Wirtz went down holding his ankle shortly after half time, received treatment and carried on briefly, before Trey Nyoni replaced him in the 65th minute.
He went straight down the tunnel rather than to the bench, which only added to the unease.
Iraola’s assessment that it “doesn’t look big” is encouraging, but Liverpool face Chelsea in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday and host Arsenal next Sunday.
Given how central Wirtz has become to the way they play, they will be desperate for the scans to confirm that first impression.
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