Liverpool: Andoni Iraola sent new Florian Wirtz verdict as fans react to Fulham performance

By Ben Knapton | 13 Sep 2026 08:48, Last updated: 13 Sep 2026 08:48

Ex-Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant - successful an exclusive Sports Mole interrogation - has defended Florian Wirtz's signifier and warned Andoni Iraola against dropping the £116m Germany international.

After scoring 2 goals successful each of their archetypal 4 matches of the 2026-27 play successful each competitions, Liverpool produced a tepid attacking show successful Saturday's 0-0 Premier League gully with Fulham.

The Cottagers came into gameweek 4 having shipped 7 goals successful their opening 3 fixtures, but the attacking quartet of Wirtz, Alexander Isak, Victor Munoz and Bradley Barcola were stunted by Alvaro Arbeloa's backline.

Liverpool managed conscionable 3 shots connected people successful beforehand of their ain fans, and a full of 1.28 Expected Goals, but Wirtz's qualities were erstwhile again called into question aft the German failed to marque a nonstop interaction successful beforehand of goal.

Wirtz did not find the people with immoderate of his 3 shots and besides generated conscionable 0.06 Expected Assists himself, though helium inactive fashioned 2 chances and completed 3 progressive carries.

Jermaine Pennant launches Florian Wirtz defence amid Liverpool criticism

Asked whether Liverpool should see dropping Wirtz and starting with a beforehand 4 of Munoz, Barcola, Isak and Cody Gakpo, Pennant warned Iraola against specified a move, highlighting the former's value successful the build-up phases.

"It’s comic with Wirtz, due to the fact that you don’t spot a batch of item reels successful presumption of his assists and goals, but what helium does erstwhile you’re watching a crippled is the pre-assist - the escaped build-up, the bully touches to get idiosyncratic moving onto the ball, past mounting up the walk for the goal," Pennant said.

“Those things matter, and I’m definite the manager tin spot that. He’s truthful tidy astir the ball, connected the ball, helium hardly loses it and makes the close walk astatine the close time.

“I deliberation you person to support him successful the fig 10 role, due to the fact that if helium does get that assurance and helium gets that momentum, if helium strikes a concern with Isak, if helium strikes a concern with Ekitike, that’s worthy its value successful gold.

“I deliberation helium volition beryllium the fig 10 due to the fact that helium is the champion fig 10 astatine the club. For me, you’ve got to play Isak, Wirtz, Gakpo and Barcola.

“Obviously, erstwhile Gakpo’s fit, you tin either enactment him connected the near oregon right. I’d astir apt similar him connected the right, and past Barcola connected the left. But, yeah, I deliberation those 4 truly should play. It’ll beryllium absorbing to spot erstwhile it each starts clicking together.”

How did Liverpool fans respond to Florian Wirtz performance?

Florian Wirtz is everyplace for Liverpool and trying truthful hard to marque the quality here. If you don’t spot his worth arsenic a footballer past this athletics isn’t for you. Huge talent.

Not each Liverpool instrumentality agreed with Pennant's appraisal aft the Reds' underwhelming stalemate with Fulham, with 1 protagonist predicting an exit from Anfield successful a mates of years.

LFCLaurie wrote connected X: "Honestly the lone crushed anyone tin inactive person religion successful Wirtz is due to the fact that they can’t bring themselves to judge he’s a flop. Every nine has that large flop and he’s ours. Sooner you realise that the easier it becomes. He’ll beryllium backmost to the Bundesliga successful a play oregon two."

@SeanDOLfc shared the aforesaid sentiment, posting: "The happening is with Wirtz, you tin privation him to bash good but if you really deliberation we can’t bargain a amended subordinate you’re conscionable successful excessively deep. We’ll merchantability him backmost to Germany wrong 2 years."

However, immoderate supporters were much measured successful their analysis, arsenic Danny Gallagher wrote: "Florian Wirtz is everyplace for Liverpool and trying truthful hard to marque the quality here. If you don’t spot his worth arsenic a footballer past this athletics isn’t for you. Huge talent."

Wirtz has travel up with 7 goals and 11 assists successful 54 appearances for Liverpool, who are backmost successful enactment against Tottenham Hotspur successful the EFL Cup 3rd circular connected Tuesday.

Jermaine Pennant was speaking to Sports Mole connected behalf of NetBet Casino.