New Liverpool Boss Andoni Iraola Likely Captivated by World Cup Day Four
Published 8 hours ago
Liverpool's newly appointed manager Andoni Iraola is expected to treat the World Cup as a reconnaissance mission, evaluating the players he has taken over while also identifying potential recruits to revitalize a squad that endured a disappointing Premier League title defense.
Having taken charge following the dismissal of Arne Slot, Spaniard Iraola likely found day four of the tournament particularly compelling as he gathered intelligence, with all matches holding relevance for him.
So what might have caught Iraola's attention as he maps out his strategy to rejuvenate Liverpool after his move from Bournemouth?
**Can Iraola unlock the true Wirtz?**
Florian Wirtz joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen last summer amid massive hype, arriving in a then-British record £116m deal. However, he remained an enigma, falling well short of expectations.
Liverpool still have significant hopes for the gifted attacker, who has only just turned 23. This means one of Iraola's primary challenges is establishing a consistent role for the German to unleash the talent he showed before his Anfield move.
This explains why Iraola would have been fascinated by Wirtz's performance in Germany's 7-1 victory over Curacao in their World Cup opener.
Context is important—this was against a side ranked 82nd globally—but wearing his national colors and in favorable circumstances, Wirtz displayed moments of brilliance.
Florian Wirtz struggled at Liverpool last season but thrived with freedom for Germany against Curacao
During his first campaign at Anfield, Wirtz often seemed miscast, playing both behind the strikers and out wide without ever truly excelling.
In Houston, Wirtz operated on the left flank, potentially giving Iraola something to consider, particularly given Cody Gakpo's poor season in that role. He created Germany's opening goal for Felix Nmecha with the kind of delicate touch and quick thinking that was missing for much of last season.
Wirtz recorded 39 touches in the final third, playing a key role as Germany dominated.
Former England striker Chris Sutton, reporting from Houston for BBC Radio 5 Live, commented: "The caveat is that this was Curacao, but Liverpool fans watching, especially in the first half, might have wondered if this was the same Florian Wirtz who played for them last season.
"He appeared happy in a German shirt, comfortable and playing with freedom."
Sutton added: "He was sharp coming off the left, drifting inside to play quick, incisive passes. He was creative and clever. He seemed unburdened. Alongside Jamal Musiala, he was a real threat."
Iraola will aim to ease the pressure on Wirtz at Liverpool.
**Mixed results for Iraola's Dutch trio**
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'Big goal from big player!' - van Dijk scores for the Netherlands
Virgil van Dijk is set to remain a cornerstone of Iraola's new Liverpool era. This was reinforced by his display for the Netherlands in their 2-2 draw with Japan in Dallas.
The outcome was disappointing for Ronald Koeman's side, who surrendered the lead twice, but Van Dijk was named man of the match.
Van Dijk, who will turn 35 in July, scored a goal and served as the primary defensive barrier in a Dutch backline that occasionally looked shaky.
He put the Netherlands ahead after 51 minutes with a precise header. Then, as Japan pressed late on, Van Dijk nearly secured the win with a series of commanding headers.
Ryan Gravenberch, whom Iraola hopes will rediscover the outstanding form he showed as a holding midfielder when Liverpool won the Premier League in Slot's first season, was solid and set up Van Dijk's opener with a tempting cross.
In a statistical oddity, Gravenberch's assist for Van Dijk is only the second World Cup goal ever scored and assisted by a Liverpool player, following Ian Callaghan setting up Roger Hunt for England against France in 1966.
Gravenberch also assisted Crysencio Summerville's second goal for the Dutch.
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However, Iraola may have wanted more from the third member of Liverpool's Dutch contingent, as Cody Gakpo endured a quiet match.
Gakpo's game became predictable during Liverpool's struggles last season, too often relying on cutting inside—a tactic opponents easily read as his form dipped.
He fell into similar patterns against Japan, though Gakpo's situation was arguably not helped by coach Koeman's decision to start Tottenham Hotspur's Micky van de Ven at left-back. A natural center-back, Van de Ven offered little attacking support, allowing Japan to crowd out Gakpo.
Gakpo is another player Iraola will hope to revive after a sharp decline in performance levels last season.
**Diomande shows Iraola what the excitement is about**
Filling the enormous void left by Mohamed Salah will be high on Iraola's priority list as he settles into his role at Liverpool.
RB Leipzig's 19-year-old Yan Diomande has been widely mentioned as a potential candidate to replace the 'Egyptian king'.
He is one of Europe's most sought-after talents and demonstrated exactly why Liverpool—along with Champions League holders Paris St-Germain—are heavily linked with him as his next destination. He delivered a man-of-the-match performance full of promise in Ivory Coast's 1-0 win against Ecuador.
Diomande played on the right flank in the first half, where he would operate if he joined Liverpool to fill Salah's old role, then switched to the left after the break, creating five chances overall.
Ivory coast teenager Yan Diomande showed his rich potential in Ivory Coast's World Cup win against Ecuador
He troubled Arsenal's Piero Hincapie in the opening 45 minutes with one electrifying run, leaving the Ecuador defender behind to create an opportunity for Nicolas Pepe. Diomande also displayed strength and nimble footwork to escape when Ecuador doubled up on him in an attempt to neutralize his threat.
Diomande set up a second-half chance when Elye Wahi hit the woodwork, and his positive approach was reflected in 22 passes in the attacking third.
There are, understandably at just 19, elements of rawness and wastefulness in Diomande's game, but there was sufficient evidence here to see why he is on Liverpool's radar as they look to strengthen Iraola's new squad.
And given Iraola's record of developing younger players at Bournemouth—such as 19-year-old Junior Kroupi and another teenager, Brazil forward Rayan—Diomande seems like a natural fit.
**Isak masterclass will excite Iraola**
Alexander Isak's record £125m transfer to Liverpool from Newcastle United turned into a nightmare of poor form and injuries during a disappointing campaign, with the Swede scoring just four goals in 22 appearances.
The 26-year-old striker arrived lacking fitness after a period of self-imposed exile on Tyneside, then broke his leg while scoring Liverpool's goal in a 2-1 win at Spurs in December.
Iraola, therefore, would have been delighted to see Isak displaying his old scintillating form as he played a key role in Sweden's 5-1 thrashing of Tunisia in Monterrey.
Isak may have benefited from a goalkeeping error for his first-half goal, but the way he ran at the Tunisian defense and then showed the confidence to shoot will have encouraged Iraola.
He demonstrated strength and awareness to dispossess Tunisia captain Ellyes Skhiri and set up a goal for strike partner Viktor Gyokeres in the second half. This made Isak and Gyokeres only the second pair of Swedish teammates to each record a goal and an assist in a World Cup match since 1966.
Isak looked fit and in form, earning man of the match honors before being substituted in the closing seconds—and with fellow striker Hugo Ekitike out until next year with an Achilles tendon injury, Iraola will want Isak in peak condition next season.
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Gyokeres & Isak score as Sweden put five past Tunisia
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