Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has expressed full confidence in his two high-profile signings, Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola, despite their limited statistical impact so far this season. Ahead of Liverpool’s Champions League match against Austrian club LASK, Iraola reiterated his trust in the £239 million duo who have yet to score a goal between them and faced criticism following a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday.
Barcola, signed from Paris Saint-Germain for £123 million, has made six appearances without registering a goal or assist, while Wirtz has contributed one assist this season. Both players were expected to play significant roles after Liverpool’s usual leading scorers—Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo, and Dominik Szoboszlai—were sidelined due to minor injuries. The trio, who have collectively scored nine of Liverpool’s 12 goals this season, remain unavailable, placing added pressure on Wirtz and Barcola to fill the offensive void.
Iraola emphasized that the pair have experienced a mix of good and poor performances, like any players adjusting to a new team. He suggested that focusing solely on statistics like goals and assists may not fully reflect their contributions. Using a recent example, he noted that if teammate Lewis Koumas had converted a chance involving Barcola, it would be recorded as an assist, altering perceptions of Barcola’s performance despite little actual change in his play. “Bradley and Flo are players I trust 100 percent,” Iraola said. “The more Bradley plays, the more connections with those around him and the better he’ll become.”
Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard also weighed in on Wirtz, describing him as a “great talent” who requires ongoing support from the coaching staff and experienced teammates before reaching his potential.
In addition to backing his players, Iraola acknowledged uncertainty over when Isak, Gakpo, and Szoboszlai might return, citing day-to-day monitoring of their fitness. He indicated possible lineup changes for the trip to Linz and praised the team’s overall spirit and work rate despite the heavy loss to Manchester City. However, he pointed out defensive lapses after midfielder Ryan Gravenberch’s red card as a key factor in the defeat, explaining that conceding immediately after going down to ten men forced Liverpool to chase the game and open up further vulnerabilities.
With Liverpool facing tests in upcoming fixtures, including matches against Brentford, Villarreal, and Brighton, Iraola will be relying on Wirtz and Barcola to step up their performances to help compensate for the continued absence of the club’s usual attacking stars.