Competitions · europe

Iraola Backs Wirtz and Barcola as Liverpool Prepare for Lask Trip

Reports highlight ongoing debates surrounding Florian Wirtz's form following his £116m move, while Andoni Iraola calls on other squad members to step up amid key absences.

ReportedNews·2026-10-14·3 min

Written by GFR Iberian Desk · AR001113

Questions have emerged regarding Florian Wirtz's role at Liverpool following reports from British media assessing the midfielder's performances since his £116m transfer over a year ago.

According to BBC Sport, Wirtz continues to struggle to consistently reach top form at the club, prompting discussion over whether he should remain in the starting lineup.

Support from management

Despite the scrutiny, Andoni Iraola has expressed complete trust in both Wirtz and fellow high-profile signing Bradley Barcola, as reported by The Guardian. Iraola indicated that he retains full confidence in the pair despite recent debates around their form.

The team faces an upcoming fixture against Lask in Austria while managing squad absences. The Guardian reports that Liverpool will be without Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo for the encounter.

Demand for squad contribution

With key goalscoring figures unavailable, Iraola has urged other members of the squad to step forward and supply the necessary attacking output.

The situation remains monitored by national outlets as Liverpool prepare for their trip to Austria without several key attacking options.

Sources

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