Iraola hails Wirtz after under-fire playmaker turns in creative masterclass

Andoni Iraola hailed Florian Wirtz’s imaginative impact after the Germany global assisted Liverpool originate from behind to beat Brentford.

After a disorderly surface to the very first half of Saturday’s video game, which saw Keane Lewis-Potter put Brentford in front before Yehor Yarmoliuk was dispatched, Wirtz assisted Liverpool finish a second-half fightback.

He helped Victor Munoz’s equaliser, before Alexander Isak fired home on his return from injury to put the Reds 2-1 up.

In spite of a couple of nervy minutes late on, Iraola’s side hung on, with Brentford being decreased to 9 males in blockage time as Vitaly Janelt dropped Rio Ngumoha from behind, having actually currently been scheduled for dissent.

Wirtz’s help was his 2nd in the Premier League this season, both of which have actually been for Munoz, after the duo likewise integrated for an objective versus Nottingham Forest in August.

Having actually come under fire for his efficiencies given that showing up from Bayer Leverkusen, Wirtz developed 9 opportunities from open play on Saturday, ending up being the very first gamer to accomplish that task in a single Premier League video game because January 2021.

On that event, it was Sadio Mane who teed up 9 chances from open play, likewise for Liverpool versus Burnley. The previous gamer to do so for an away group, on the other hand, was Samir Nasri for Manchester City versus Tottenham in August 2011 (10 ).

Inquired about Wirtz’s impact after Brentford got their very first red card, Iraola stated: “I believe, specifically in the 2nd half, it’s the circumstance where if you require a gamer there, you require Flo.

“It’s like when you’re opting for Rio, it’s extremely comparable. There are really couple of areas, little pockets, no time at all on the ball … there are some fragile things you need to discover since Brentford are a group that safeguard their box truly, actually well.

“I think you need players like Flo, like Rio, like Victor, who was lovely when attacking against the full-back and who can make the difference.”

Munoz magic to bring us level https://t.co/0Nel3RnsXD

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 17, 2026

While Iraola was pleased with big elements of Liverpool’s efficiency, he acknowledged they must have handled the scenario much better after going 2-1 up.

“I think we played really well in the minutes up until we scored to make it 2-1 against 10 players. We were being patient and finding good positions and were in control,” he stated.

“I was most likely more dissatisfied after we scored, due to the fact that after you score to make it 2-1, then you seem like you have something to lose.

“We missed clear counters to finish the game and it put us back overall. But I think the situation against 10 players, we dealt with that quite well.”

Brentford’s very first red card was extensively disputed in the after-effects of the video game, with Yarmoliuk appearing to thrust his head into Jeremy Jacquet while the gamers were scrambling before a corner, although the Liverpool centre-back decreased theatrically.

Iraola would not be made use of that dispute, stating: “I think it’s a hard one. I have to say that. I’ve seen it on the screen, but I still don’t know. I’m not sure.”

Keith Andrews had a clear view on it, stating: “I do believe they were charming and creative, however Yarmo requires to do much better, so I can comprehend why it was a red.

“If you look at where Jacquet is walking, he’s not looking at the ball, is he? He’s walking into Yarmo.”