Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has backed Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola after the two £100m-plus signings came under fire following Sunday's 3-0 home defeat to Manchester City.
The Florian Wirtz Liverpool criticism intensified after Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher called for the German to be dropped, saying the £116m signing "isn't working." But Iraola, speaking ahead of Wednesday's Champions League trip to LASK, said he retains "100 per cent" trust in both players.
The debate matters now because Liverpool's three leading goalscorers this season — Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai — are all injured and will miss the match in Linz, according to Sky Sports. With a small squad looking to its remaining big-name signings for a spark, the spotlight on Wirtz and Barcola is about to sharpen.
Iraola stands by Wirtz and Barcola
Wirtz joined from Bayer Leverkusen for £116m and Barcola arrived from PSG in a £123m deal late in the summer transfer window. Barcola has made six appearances without properly contributing, Sky Sports reported, and Wirtz struggled to exert influence against City even when Liverpool were in the ascendancy.
"Bradley and Flo have had good and bad games this season like everyone else, but we know their level, and for sure we know they will give us good performances," Iraola said.
"I don't care if one scores or the other scores, it is a more collective thing."
Iraola pointed to Wirtz's performances for Germany in the last international break, where he scored one goal, as a positive. Wirtz arrived as one of Europe's top young talents after lighting up the Bundesliga, but has struggled to find a role at Liverpool — not helped by the change of head coach in the summer.
Jamie Carragher says Wirtz should be dropped
Carragher was blunt in his assessment after the City defeat.
"I'm just sorry to say this: the Florian Wirtz signing isn't working, and it hasn't worked so far, and [Ryan] Gravenberch should not be sitting on the bench when Wirtz is playing for Liverpool," he said on Sky Sports.
Carragher said Wirtz has played 55-60 games for the club and "needs to come out of the team." He said he had hoped the German could be "the Kevin De Bruyne that at times got Manchester City over the line," but struggled to think of one game where Wirtz had been the man for Liverpool.
On Barcola, Carragher was more forgiving, saying criticism would be harsh because the winger has been at the club six weeks and did not have a pre-season.
Injuries raise the stakes before LASK trip
Isak, Gakpo and Szoboszlai will all miss the Champions League fixture in Austria, and Iraola is unsure of their availability for the following three matches against Brentford, Villarreal and Brighton.
"It's true Cody, Alex and Dom are top scorers this season as they are the ones playing more in those positions," Iraola said. "We need our players to give us those numbers; we trust the players we have now to play in those positions."
The LASK match is Liverpool's second of six in 18 days, and Iraola is set to rotate his side.
"Because of freshness reasons and some niggles it will be difficult to put the same starting XI out tomorrow," he added.
What happens next
Whether Wirtz keeps his place in the No.10 role against LASK will be the first test of Iraola's public backing. How much the coach rotates, and whether Isak, Gakpo or Szoboszlai return for Brentford, Villarreal or Brighton, will shape how long the pair must carry the attacking burden.