Liverpool bagged a 1-0 victory over Bournemouth on Sunday, but let’s be real, the talk isn’t just about Alexander Isak’s 57th-minute goal. It’s all about Florian Wirtz, Liverpool’s number 7 and a £100m+ signing, whose “slow start” to the game got called out *directly* by head coach Andoni Iraola. This wasn’t some vintage Reds performance, and one of their biggest investments is clearly still struggling to hit his stride.
The £100M Question Mark
Seriously, folks, Wirtz had a rough one. He was subbed off with 20 minutes left! Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports even said he would’ve yanked the German at half-time. Think about that: a player who cost over £100m, and he’s not even lasting a full game, with pundits already wanting him off at the break. Steve Nicol from ESPN is out here calling for him to be dropped from the starting XI altogether! You expect more from an attacker with that kind of price tag, especially when he’s only scored seven times in 55 appearances for the Reds. His underlying stats against Bournemouth? A mixed bag, to put it mildly. We even saw him in a somewhat farcical collision with Milos Kerkez in the first half. Not exactly the “vintage Reds performance” the team needed.
Coach Iraola’s Candid Take
After the match, Iraola didn’t sugarcoat it, admitting Wirtz “started the game slowly, I agree.” He talked about Liverpool not being “quite with us” in the duels during those first intense minutes. But hey, it wasn’t all bad, right? The coach saw improvement. He said Florian “has helped us also to improve,” and in the second half, he was “playing much better; he was finding better spots to receive and turn.” You gotta give Wirtz some credit too: he was involved in the build-up to Isak’s winner with an attempted flick. Iraola summed it up perfectly: he’s “much more happy with his second half than his first one.” So, a tale of two halves for our man.
Now, Wirtz gets a few days of rest before linking up with his country for their UEFA Nations League fixtures in the first week of October. Jurgen Klopp made the notable decision to split his squad, giving guys like Wirtz a chance to reset. The question is, can he use this international break to finally get his early-season form together? The fans are watching, and with that £100m+ price tag, they’re definitely expecting more.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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