Iraola backs Wirtz amid criticism as Owen warns Liverpool full-back 'looks lost'

Andoni Iraola has moved to silence critics of Florian Wirtz, declaring himself “very happy” with the £116.5m midfielder ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League visit to Bournemouth on Sunday — a fixture that also marks the Spaniard’s first return to the Vitality Stadium since leaving for Anfield in the summer.

Wirtz has contributed just one assist in five league appearances this season, drawing scrutiny over whether he has justified his fee since joining from Bayer Leverkusen. But Iraola was unequivocal in his support when pressed on the 23-year-old’s slow start.

“He should be judged like everybody else, whether he plays well or doesn’t play well,” Iraola said. “Mostly, I always say, ‘How does the team play when you are on the pitch?’ I am very happy with Florian, I rate him very highly, he understands what we need from him. He is trying to help in every aspect of the game. Obviously we want him to have assists and goals also, but he is helping us in a lot of different areas.”

Wirtz arrives at the Vitality Stadium with added context: he was called up to the Germany squad this week for the first time under Jürgen Klopp’s international tenure. Across 52 appearances for Liverpool in total, he has scored seven goals and registered nine assists — numbers that have yet to silence the doubters.

Iraola’s reunion with Bournemouth, the club he managed before moving to Merseyside, adds a personal dimension to the fixture. His successor at the Vitality Stadium, Marco Rose, will be in the opposing dugout.

Beyond the Wirtz debate, former Liverpool striker Michael Owen has raised concerns about the full-back situation at Anfield, singling out Hungarian left-back Milos Kerkez as a player who has struggled to settle.

“The full-back position is a real problem for Liverpool and it pains me to say that,” Owen told TeamTalk. “A handful of years ago they had the best full-backs in the world. Trent and Robbo, it was just unbelievable, the numbers they were posting and how well they were playing. It was a really strong position and all of a sudden it has been ripped up.”

“Milos Kerkez has struggled since being there. He looks nervous and lost in the red shirt and the shirt looks heavy on him.”

Liverpool head into the match having won just one of their opening four Premier League games, while Bournemouth are yet to register a victory this season.