Liverpool’s final stop on their U.S. preseason tour ended badly, as Leeds United ran out 4-2 winners in Chicago at Soldier Field. It was only the second time since 2001 that Leeds have beaten the Merseyside club, and while the result will not count in the standings, it left Liverpool with several issues to examine before the campaign gathers pace.

The most encouraging figure for Liverpool was Florian Wirtz. The German attacker, who had been under pressure after a difficult first season at Anfield and a disappointing summer with Germany, looked far more at ease in his first appearance of the new season. Used in the No. 10 role by Iraola, Wirtz settled quickly, linked play with confidence and finished the move for Liverpool’s second goal after combining with Jeremie Frimpong. It was the sort of performance that suggested he may finally be finding his best level in a Liverpool shirt.

Iraola will also take satisfaction from how Trey Nyoni performed. The 19-year-old helped build the move for Wirtz’s goal with a smart lofted pass to Frimpong and once again showed composure in midfield. After strong displays earlier in the tour, he strengthened his case for more first-team involvement.

The defensive side told a very different story. Ifeanyi Ndukwe looked uncertain against Leeds after previously impressing, while Mor Talla Ndiaye also struggled after coming on in the second half. Liverpool were punished twice from long throws, with the back line failing to deal with the aerial threat. That left questions over organisation, timing and defensive depth.

Liverpool had looked set to finish their U.S. trip unbeaten, but instead they return home with a loss and a clear list of problems to address. The attack showed promise, yet the defensive structure was exposed in a way Iraola cannot ignore.

Arsenal’s pursuit of Vinícius Jr. has been described as one that could reshape the club’s wage structure from top to bottom. Reports suggest the reigning Premier League champions are prepared to do whatever it takes to land the Real Madrid forward, with The Athletic also indicating that any package could be strengthened by a substantial sign-on bonus and image rights arrangement.

If a move is completed, the financial impact would be immediate. Even if Vinícius Jr. arrived on the same salary he currently earns at Real Madrid, he would still leap ahead of every player in the Arsenal squad. That alone shows the scale of the proposed deal and why it would be viewed as a major statement from the champions as they look to protect their crown.

At present, Bukayo Saka is Arsenal’s highest earner after signing a new five-year contract earlier this year reportedly worth around £300,000 ($402,000) per week. Kai Havertz follows on approximately £280,000 ($378,000) weekly, according to The Guardian. Declan Rice is reported by The Independent to earn around £250,000 ($337,000) per week, while Martin Ødegaard is said by The Athletic to be on approximately £240,000 ($319,000) per week, with his current deal running until 2028.

Those figures would all sit below a Vinícius-level salary. The Brazilian would move clear of Arsenal’s current top tier and become the club’s most expensive player by a significant distance.

Even so, that would not place him at the summit of Premier League pay. That position remains with Erling Haaland. The Manchester City striker signed a nine-and-a-half-year extension in January 2025, with The Guardian reporting that the contract is worth around £500,000 ($674,000) per week.

Liverpool’s new manager has made his view on Florian Wirtz plain: if the club are to take a step forward this season, they will need the German to operate at a high level. The challenge now is putting him in the conditions that suit him best.

Wirtz arrived last summer in a move that was a club-record $156 million (£116 million) at the time, but his first year on Merseyside fell well short of expectation. He did not record a Premier League assist before December and had to wait until Christmas for his first goal in any competition. A short spell of improved form followed around the turn of the year, yet the overall campaign remained deeply disappointing.

Liverpool’s wider struggles were part of the same picture. The side failed to build on the title they won in 2024-25, which led to Arne Slot’s departure and the arrival of Iraola this summer. The new coach is already focused on finding a structure that lets Wirtz show the level that once made him the most expensive British transfer of all time.

The most obvious adjustment is positional. Wirtz is naturally a central attacking midfielder and did the vast majority of his best work for Bayer Leverkusen in the No. 10 role. Slot often used him on the wing last season, partly to fit Dominik Szoboszlai into the side and partly to reduce the physical demands of Premier League midfield play. Iraola has indicated he does not intend to follow that route.

“We need a very good version of Florian,” the incoming coach warned ahead of Liverpool’s preseason clash with Leeds United . “We know what he can give us. I think he’s also suited to our game model.

“I see him more probably in that position behind the striker. We know that he has played with Germany more on the left sometimes. But, I think we’re going to start working with him in that position behind the striker.”

That matters because Wirtz needs involvement to influence games. Last season he averaged around 16 fewer touches per 90 minutes than in his final Leverkusen campaign, while his dribbles, shots and expected assists all dropped. He was also no longer the sole attacking reference point, with Mohamed Salah demanding the ball from the other side.

Salah’s exit gives Iraola another reason to believe Wirtz can settle into the role more naturally. For a player who takes risks in the final third, the manager’s style may provide the freedom he lacked last season.