Andoni Iraola defends under-fire Florian Wirtz and summer signing Bradley Barcola - as he insists they will give Liverpool 'good performances' and that he trusts duo '100 per cent'

· DailyMail

Andoni Iraola says he has '100 per cent trust' in Liverpool's misfiring, big-money duo Bradley Barcola and Florian Wirtz.

Andoni Iraola says he has ‘100 per cent trust’ in Liverpool’s misfiring, big-money duo Bradley Barcola and Florian Wirtz.

The £239million pair have zero goals between them this term and were criticised at the weekend for not impacting the hotly-contested clash against Manchester City.

But Reds boss Iraola has given them a public backing. Speaking in Linz ahead of Liverpool’s Champions League tie against the Austrian champions LASK, he said: ‘With Bradley and Flo, they have had good games and bad games this season like everyone else.

> ‘We know their level and we know they will give us good performances.

> ‘The possibilities are the same. The other day, if Lewis Koumas scores the shot that he connects with really well, then it is one assist for Bradley. His performance is exactly the same but we will all say, “Oof, he played really well with an assist”.

> ‘Sometimes we focus only on the numbers. With Bradley, the other day, he had good situations and we did not finish them. Bradley and Flo are players that I trust 100 per cent.’

Both Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola have looked underwhelming since joining Liverpool but head coach Iraola remains faithful

It comes after Liverpool legend and former skipper Steven Gerrard said Wirtz was a ‘great talent’.

Speaking on his new Overlap Daily show, Gerrard said: ‘I wouldn't write him off yet. I think it's too early for that. This lad has great talent in my opinion.

(4-3-2-1) Alisson; Frimpong, Gomez, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Nyoni; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Barcola; Koumas.

> ‘He needs help from the manager, the staff around him, and the experienced players.’

Iraola needs the pair to step up given three of his main goal threats – Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai – remain injured and have not travelled. The trio have scored nine of Liverpool’s 12 goals this season.

‘They are not far but it is difficult to tell right now,’ said Iraola.

> ‘Any of the three have trained with the group and we are taking it day to day. Probably the three of them are not far but it’s gonna be, I don’t know if they will be ready for Brentford or Villarreal or Brighton, I don’t know.’

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