Iraola Backs Wirtz and Barcola as Liverpool Prepare for LASK Trip

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has given Florain Wirtz and Bradley Barcola his full backing before the trip to LASK, insisting both attackers remain trusted despite their goalless starts to the campaign.

The pair came under fresh scrutiny after Liverpool’s domestic meeting with Manchester City, where neither made a decisive attacking impact. They now head to Linz with the pressure rising on two of the club’s biggest transfer investments.

Quick facts

• Wirtz and Barcola have yet to score this season.
• Liverpool face Austrian champions LASK in Linz next.
• Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai have not travelled to Austria.
• The injured trio have scored nine of Liverpool’s 12 goals this term.
• Iraola is unsure whether any of them will return for Brentford, Villarreal or Brighton.

Iraola said the judgement on performances can change too quickly when chances are missed. He pointed to a recent move involving Bradley and Lewis Koumas, saying Bradley would have been credited with an assist had Koumas converted a well-struck effort.

“The performance does not change, but people would say he had played very well because he had an assist,” Iraola said. “Sometimes we look only at the statistics.”

The Liverpool boss accepted that Wirtz and Barcola have both produced mixed displays, as have other members of the squad, but said he knows the level they can reach. He added that both players have found promising positions which Liverpool failed to turn into goals.

“Bradley and Flo are players I trust completely,” Iraola said.

Carragher calls for Wirtz change

Jamie Carragher has taken a sharply different view, arguing that Wirtz should be removed from Liverpool’s starting side. The former Liverpool defender stressed that Barcola is still early in his time at the club, while Wirtz has played close to 60 matches for the Reds.

Carragher said Wirtz offers too little threat in front of goal, arguing that he rarely looks likely to score, miss a major chance or test the goalkeeper. He also claimed youngsters Koumas and Victor Munoz are currently making a stronger case than Liverpool’s expensive attacking recruits.

The situation is more urgent because Liverpool are without their main scorers. Isak, Gakpo and Szoboszlai account for nine of the side’s 12 goals so far, leaving Iraola with fewer proven options for the European fixture.

Iraola said the three absentees are close to returning but would not set a date. Liverpool are assessing each player daily, with Brentford, Villarreal and Brighton all approaching and no certainty that any of the injured forwards will be available.