Victor Munoz, Liverpool’s £34 million man, salvaged a critical point for the squad with a stunning late strike, showcasing why he might just be the most important, and underrated, signing of the summer for new boss Andoni Iraola. This dude is already making plays that stop you in your tracks, and he is doing it with way less fanfare than the club’s £123 million agreement for Bradley Barcola.
Munoz: The Unexpected Hero Delivering on the Flank
Look, the Reds are still out there searching for someone to step into Mohamed Salah’s old spot, but Munoz is already putting in work. He won the penalty for Dominik Szoboszlai’s insane 99th-minute equalizer at Newcastle, and then on his Anfield debut, he dropped a devastating equalizer himself! Both of those came from the right flank, even though he started on the left against Nottingham Forest. Talk about versatility! The guy just finds a way to impact the game. Cody Gakpo, who set up Alexander Isak for a tap-in, is barely a right winger and is staring at an uncertain future. Munoz is making his case, big time. Iraola was spot-on, pushing for Munoz’s signing even with Newcastle trying to snatch him up. The coach even said, “Victor has been very good both games. Everything hasn’t been perfect but he tries again and again and again and I like this from the wingers.” You gotta love that fire!
Iraola’s Rollercoaster Start: Fast, Flawed, and Frustrating
Iraola’s first two games have ended in twin 2-2 draws, and if that doesn’t scream “fast and flawed,” I don’t know what does. This team can be electric going forward, but man, the defensive struggles are real. Newcastle sliced right through the heart of the team for both of their goals. Then against Forest, it was all about balls in behind, including an 80-yard punt from their keeper, Matz Sels, and a quick throw-in from debutant Liam Delap that led to a penalty. Alisson upended Neco Williams, and Morgan Gibbs-White, who’s becoming a real pain for Liverpool, buried the spot-kick. Iraola was literally getting ready to make substitutions when they gave up that penalty! Oliver Glasner, the opposing manager, summed it up perfectly: “It could and probably should have been a win. Very proud of the performance but frustrated and disappointed about the result.” You can feel the frustration from both sides because both new managers are still winless.
This start felt like a perfect storm of bad vibes for Liverpool. Forest had won their last two trips to Anfield. Glasner had beaten Liverpool three times last season with Crystal Palace. And Iraola? He tends to start slow in new gigs. The first half against Forest was “poor from our side,” Iraola admitted, but at least the second half showed some fight. Still, the high defensive line and that susceptibility to counter-attacks? That’s gotta get fixed if this team wants to turn things around.
What’s Next for the Reds?
So, both Iraola and Glasner are still chasing that first win, but Munoz is out here putting in work. He is a definite bright spot in what’s been a mixed bag of results so far. The team avoided a total disaster and got a point, but they need to clean up those defensive issues, pronto. Can Iraola’s squad tighten up and start turning these draws into wins? The whole league is watching to see how this story unfolds.
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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