Iraola Shows Faith in Liverpool's Underperforming Big-Money Signings

Posted : 13 October 2026

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has expressed confidence that Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola will prove their worth despite facing criticism over their early performances at Anfield. Speaking ahead of Liverpool's Champions League trip to Austrian side LASK, Iraola defended both players and insisted that their quality would eventually translate into stronger displays.

Wirtz joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in a deal reportedly worth up to £116 million, but the Germany international has found it difficult to reproduce the form that made him one of Europe's most highly regarded attacking midfielders. The playmaker, who played a key role in Leverkusen's unbeaten Bundesliga title-winning campaign in 2023-24, has scored seven goals in 56 appearances for the Merseyside club.

Barcola arrived from Paris Saint-Germain in a reported £123 million transfer and has made six appearances for Liverpool. However, the France international is yet to register a goal or an assist, increasing scrutiny of his performances as he adjusts to life in English football.

Iraola acknowledged that both players have experienced mixed results this season but believes their underlying ability will help them improve. He maintained that he has complete faith in the pair and expects them to produce the performances Liverpool need as the campaign progresses.

Iraola also defended Barcola's contribution during Liverpool's 3-0 defeat to Manchester City, arguing that the winger's performance could have been viewed more positively if one of his passes had resulted in a goal. Barcola created an opportunity for Lewis Koumas early in the second half, but the chance went unfinished.

The Liverpool manager believes attention to statistics can sometimes overshadow a player's overall contribution. He pointed to Barcola's ability to get into promising positions and create opportunities, stressing that the team must do a better job of converting those chances.

Iraola reiterated that both Barcola and Wirtz remain important to Liverpool's plans, adding that he expects them to deliver as they become more settled within the team.

Liverpool's attacking options have been stretched by the absence of Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai, who have all missed matches because of injuries sustained during the international break. None of the three travelled to Austria for the Champions League meeting with LASK.

Their absence places additional responsibility on Wirtz and Barcola to help provide the creativity and attacking output Liverpool need. Iraola admitted that the club was monitoring the injured players' progress but could not confirm whether they would return for the upcoming Premier League match against Brentford or the subsequent fixtures against Villarreal and Brighton.

Liverpool will hope their available attackers can respond positively during a demanding run of matches. For Wirtz and Barcola, the coming games offer an opportunity to answer their critics, reward Iraola's continued backing and demonstrate why the club invested heavily in bringing them to Anfield.

Iraola Shows Faith in Liverpool's Underperforming Big-Money Signings

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