Florian Wirtz is beginning to look more like the player Liverpool paid £116 million for, but manager Andoni Iraola knows that a handful of encouraging performances only tells part of the story — and the hardest chapters lie ahead.
The 23-year-old Germany international contributed a goal or an assist in each of Liverpool's last three matches, all victories, including a particularly impressive showing in the 6-3 Champions League demolition of LASK in Austria and an eye-catching display in the Premier League comeback win at Brentford. He then capped that run with his first goal since April in Tuesday's 4-3 home win against Villarreal.
From the firing line to the front foot
Not long ago, the picture looked far bleaker. Following Liverpool's 3-0 defeat to Manchester City at Anfield, former Reds captain Jamie Carragher called for Wirtz to be dropped, arguing that Ryan Gravenberch should not be sitting on the bench while the German was underperforming in the No 10 role.
