Andoni Iraola has offered firm backing to Florian Wirtz as criticism of the Liverpool midfielder continues to build, aligning himself with the view already expressed by Jürgen Klopp.

Wirtz has faced increasing scrutiny over a modest return of goals and assists, with frustration around his output rising after each passing week. Yet Iraola was clear in his defence ahead of Liverpool’s visit to Bournemouth, stressing that the German should be assessed in the same way as every other player.

“He should be judged like everybody else, whether he plays well or doesn’t play well” Iraola told reporters at his Friday news conference. “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.”

Klopp has also defended Wirtz this week after naming his first squad since becoming Germany head coach. The former Liverpool manager selected two separate squads of 44 players for the upcoming three-week international break, with Wirtz included among them.

Asked about the player’s recent displays, Klopp was equally supportive. “I think he’s the player who covered the most ground at Liverpool this season, so the willingness is absolutely there,” Klopp told media on Thursday.

“We have to move away from expecting to always see special moments in front of goal from him. He needs to help us as a team. We have to make sure Flo feels comfortable with us. When the team works, every player shines as a result.

“So we have to be satisfied when Flo plays a game in which he gave everything but didn’t register a goal or assist. We need to give the boy the feeling, ‘That was more than good enough today. You helped us as a team.’”

There is little mystery behind the growing frustration. Wirtz arrived with significant expectation, and supporters have naturally wanted more decisive contributions. Still, his work without the ball has improved under Iraola, with the midfielder leading his teammates for possession won in the final third and distance covered per 90 minutes in the Premier League. Even so, when measured against other attacking midfielders at England’s elite sides last season, he fell short.

Liverpool are working to secure Rio Ngumoha on a new contract as interest from Arsenal continues to grow around the teenage winger.

Ngumoha has already made five more appearances for Liverpool this season and remains central to the club’s first-team thinking. That is notable given the summer arrivals of Bradley Barcola and Victor Muñoz, both of whom operate in the same left-wing role that suits the youngster best.

The situation is made more pressing by the fact that his current deal runs until 2028, with no agreement yet in place on an extension. David Ornstein has confirmed Arsenal’s interest on The Athletic FC podcast, while also stressing that Liverpool are not ready to entertain a sale.

“I think there is some interest from Arsenal in Rio Ngumoha,” said Ornstein. “There’s surely interest from lots of clubs in him, because he’s such a precocious talent. I did hear over the summer that they like him. They’re allowed to like him; that’s their prerogative. It doesn’t mean Liverpool are going to sell him.

“They want to renew his contract. He’s 18 and tied down at Anfield until 2028. I don’t know of an agreement yet on a new deal, so clearly that’s something they’ll try to progress.”

Liverpool regard the teenager as untouchable after already turning away interest from Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig last summer. Even so, the amount of football he receives under Andoni Iraola could prove important in the months ahead.

With Barcola, Muñoz and Cody Gakpo among the options on the flanks, there is pressure on the manager to keep Ngumoha involved and avoid any frustration while Liverpool work on a renewal.

“I heard Arsenal have some interest in him, but I guess we’ll have to wait and see what happens with him and Liverpool because there is no suggestion he’s unhappy there,” Ornstein added.

“I reported over the summer that Ngumoha was actually Bayern Munich’s top target at one point to strengthen in the wing position. They’d done quite a lot of work on it, but it didn’t develop. Liverpool had no interest in trading him.

“RB Leipzig were another club credited with interest. What will be really interesting is to see how much game time he gets at Liverpool, because wingers are the big thing for Andoni Iraola.

“You would expect him to be a real asset for them. Let’s see how it develops.”

Arsenal’s interest is also tied to their lack of depth on the left side. Christos Tzolis has arrived from Club Brugge, but the loss of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard has left the area short of natural options.

At present, Tzolis is mainly competing with Eberechi Eze, who is more naturally suited to central attacking midfield. Mikel Arteta will want reinforcements soon, especially after Arsenal’s unsuccessful attempt to sign Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior over the summer.

Dominik Szoboszlai was quick to highlight the impact of Lewis Koumas and James McConnell after Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday evening, insisting the pair have shown enough to earn more opportunities in the first team.

Liverpool’s incoming manager made 10 changes from the side that had laboured in a goalless draw with Fulham on Saturday, with Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Bradley Barcola all rested. That trio has cost more than $490 million over the past year, underlining the scale of the squad available and the significance of the younger players’ contribution.

Koumas and McConnell started as the energetic central pair in a 4-2-3-1 and delivered exactly the kind of work off the ball that has been demanded during this transition period. Szoboszlai was effusive when asked about them by Sky Sports.

“They both did a really good job,” Szoboszlai gushed to Sky Sports after the 2–1 win. “Koumas with his timing and McConnell with his running ability. Both of them deserve to play. They both played very well. And now they will make it really hard for the gaffer.”

The gaffer in question has already been full of praise for Koumas, particularly since preseason. “I said in the week and say it for a reason, I see it in training every day,” Iraola beamed on Tuesday. “The energy he shows is contagious for the rest. When they see the ones up front doing it, they are forced to go from behind.”

McConnell played in a slightly more advanced midfield role than usual, while Koumas stood out as the main presser at the top of an attack that looked far sharper without the ball. Liverpool won possession in the final third eight times against Spurs, double their average in the Premier League so far this season.

That sharpness contrasted with the previous match against Fulham, when Iraola pointed to a weak press as a major reason for the lack of threat. “We were recovering the ball always very low and when that happens you have to attack against 11 players and that makes it more difficult to make the difference,” Iraola fretted. “We need to recover the ball as high as possible because it makes the offensive side a lot easier, and we have more situations to attack in one vs. one.”

Iraola has also made clear where he believes the responsibility lies. “If the ones up front do their job very well then the defenders and midfielders look good,” he bluntly explained. “If the players ahead of you are doing their job then you look a better midfielder or defender because you win more easier duels, you have more chance of winning one. It is more collective.”