Fair to say, Liverpool fans were hoping for more during the now closed transfer window. The Reds made four senior additions, signing Ronald Araújo on loan as well as Bradley Barcola, Jérémy Jacquet and Víctor Muñoz for almost £200 million. Following last season's fifth place finish, it was viewed that this was not enough to see the Reds back challenging for honours again.
However, given that the club spent £450 million last summer, Andoni Iraola was equally tasked with getting the best out of the players he inherited. Even at this early stage of the campaign, we have seen a clear improvement in Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak in particular, while Dominik Szoboszlai's level has remained very high. However, Florian Wirtz is yet to produce in a Liverpool shirt.
When the German international arrived from Bayer Leverkusen just over 12 months ago for around £116 million, he was widely considered one of the most exciting young attackers in world football. However, Kopites are yet to really see that. The 23 year old has so far racked up a miserly seven goals and 11 assists for the club in 53 appearances.
However, Iraola clearly believes that Wirtz has plenty to offer. During pre-season, the new head coach declared that he plans to deploy the German international as a number ten, adding that he does not view him as a wide player. Throughout his career, for club and country, Wirtz has regularly been deployed off the left, but will not do so very much for Iraola, given that the Basque coach likes his wingers to stay high and wide.
The 23 year old has thereby started all four competitive matches this season in a central role, completing 90 minutes three times. He has also been included in the XI for Saturday afternoon's Premier League clash with Fulham at Anfield. Against the Cottagers, who have been defensively all over the place under Álvaro Arbeloa and are currently pointless, Wirtz will be hoping to make a telling contribution that could spark his season into life.
Ahead of this match, speaking in the embargoed section of his press conference at AXA Training Centre, Iraola backed Wirtz to come good this season.
"With Florian, he is key for us... I am not worried because he can play very well in the game... there is an argument to make that the wingers have changed more than anywhere else with Bradley and Víctor. They have new weapons that we can use... Wirtz will quickly learn where Víctor prefers the ball or where Bradley prefers the ball."Andoni Iraola on Liverpool's attack
Iraola is urging for patience as he completely overhauls Liverpool's forward line, especially in wide areas. Wirtz will be the central hub of the side, creating chances for Gakpo, Isak, Muñoz, Rio Ngumoha and Barcola, but now is his time to deliver. Despite widespread criticism of Wirtz, Iraola was quick to praise his display in the Reds' last outing, the 2-1 Champions League victory over Atlético Madrid, as well as other matches earlier in the campaign.
"He played very well against Atletico Madrid. He helped us a lot, also he was very good on the ball and overall I was very happy with his performance... overall I have been very happy with his performances. He is a good player out of possession who helps us in our press.... you cannot just play because of the numbers. Whether a striker scores a lot of goals or he doesn’t score a lot of goals, you have to look at the performances. Does he help us to play well? Yes. "Andoni Iraola on Florian Wirtz
Perhaps hamstrung by the price tag, Wirtz has not been the elite level difference maker Liverpool fans were expecting. Nevertheless, his talent and quality is clear for all to see, and he is clearly central to Iraola's plans, in his best position, so it is now time for the 23 year old to show what he is capable of.
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