Andoni Iraola has taken the reins at Liverpool with a clear agenda: revive a club that endured a wretched defence of their Premier League title last season. As the World Cup enters its early rounds, the former Bournemouth manager is watching closely — and day four of the tournament gave him plenty to consider.

Can Iraola unlock the real Wirtz?

Florian Wirtz arrived at Anfield from Bayer Leverkusen last summer in a then-British record deal worth £116 million. Yet the 23-year-old forward never found his feet, looking out of place whether deployed behind the strikers or on the flanks.

Germany's 7-1 dismantling of Curacao — a side ranked 82nd in the world — offered a different picture. Operating on the left, Wirtz was sharp and inventive, creating the opening goal for Felix Nmecha with a delicate, quick-thinking touch that was rarely seen in his first Anfield campaign. He registered 39 touches in the final third and looked liberated.

Former England striker Chris Sutton, reporting for BBC Radio 5 Live from Houston, noted the contrast: