A first Premier League defeat since January for Andoni Iraola, with ten-man Liverpool swept aside late on on Sunday following Ryan Gravenberch’s red card.
All the talk pre-match was about off-field controversy relating to Manchester City, but it was on-field controversy that proved decisive in the end, the Dutchman dismissed in undoubtedly soft circumstances.
Alas, the Reds have bigger concerns right now, including the ongoing woes of Florian Wirtz, the £116m man still yet to click into gear on Merseyside.
As the weekend defeat showcased, patience is starting to wear thin with the German, and for good reason. Is his time already up at Anfield?
Will Liverpool sell Florian Wirtz in January?
It says it all of Wirtz’s Liverpool struggles that since the start of last season, the former Bayer Leverkusen man has created just five ‘big chances’ in total, none of which have been racked up in 2026/27.
For a player of his supposed quality, one operating in a number ten berth, that simply isn’t up to scratch, with Morgan Gibbs-White, for instance, already up to seven big chances created this season as the frontrunner in the division.
Considering Wirtz hasn’t chipped in in front of goal either, yet to score in the Premier League this term, it’s easy to see why there are calls to take him out of the firing line, with just one assist under his belt too.
There might even be a consideration as to whether to sell the 23-year-old heading into 2027, with TEAMtalk reporting last month that Bayern Munich remain firmly interested in a move, having recently sounded out the player’s representatives again.
That same report did reveal that Liverpool are sticking by their man as things stand, while any sale would have to see them make a profit on their initial, eye-watering investment. They have already lost a certain Luis Diaz to Bayern too.
|
Diaz (24/25) vs Wirtz (25/26) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Diaz |
Stat (*per game) |
Wirtz |
|
36 |
Games |
33 |
|
13 |
Goals |
5 |
|
11 |
Big chances missed |
8 |
|
5 |
Assists |
3 |
|
8 |
Big chances created |
5 |
|
1.6 |
Key passes* |
1.8 |
|
86 |
Pass accuracy* |
85% |
|
1.5 |
Succ. dribbles* |
1.2 |
|
3.8 |
Total duels won* |
3.0 |
|
8.4 |
Ball lost* |
11.5 |
The piece also noted that the Reds were hopeful that spell under Jurgen Klopp with Germany would prove fruitful, yet even an encouraging international break couldn’t spark an uplift in form against City.
He’s unlikely to be sold in January, one would think, yet an escape route may well be on the agenda heading into next summer.
Wirtz’s exit isn’t a pressing issue, therefore, with the Reds needing to shift others in January beforehand.
Forget Wirtz: Liverpool man looks finished at Anfield
For all the investment overseen by Richard Hughes, Sunday exposed the relative threadbare nature of Andoni Iraola’s squad.
The attack has been the key area in terms of expensive reinforcements, yet with Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo sidelined, alongside Hugo Ekitike, the Reds looked desperately short on options.
It said it all too that even with that trio absent, Iraola still didn’t call upon Federico Chiesa until the 88th minute, the injury-hit Italian having become something of a forgotten man at Anfield.
The only senior signing made under Arne Slot back in 2024, it is rather remarkable that Chiesa remains a Liverpool player, not least considering he’s started just two league games in that time.
Of course, fitness has been the key concern, yet as they say, the best ability is availability, with the former Juventus man sadly unable to remain injury-free across an extended period.
There’s no denying that Slot, in particular, should have called upon him more regularly, although again, his physical condition has perhaps been a factor in his continued peripheral role.
For a man who reportedly earns £150k-per-week, Liverpool would have been expecting far more, the flying winger only making 51 appearances for the club to date in all competitions.
There has been a cult hero vibe to the 28-year-old, yet a return of just five goals and five assists makes for grim reading for any high-profile forward.
Now into his third season, Chiesa’s time appears to have come and gone, with it no doubt telling that he was omitted from Iraola’s Champions League squad, alongside Wataru Endo.
European action might have been a route to game time for him, yet now he’s unlikely to see much in the way of involvement as the season progresses, having already spent much of this year on the sidelines with injury.
The fees dished out on the likes of Wirtz and Bradley Barcola have ensured the pair are set to endure far more scrutiny, but even so, it shouldn’t be forgotten just what a dismal signing Chiesa has been.
It does certainly feel like January will be the time to permanently shift the Italian, while Wirtz might enjoy a stay of execution until the summer.