‘Players that I trust 100%’ – Andoni Iraola jumps to the defence of much-maligned Liverpool duo

Andoni Iraola, Liverpool's head coach, has defended the much-maligned duo of Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola after they faced heavy criticism from the media. The two players, who joined Liverpool in the summer of 2025, have yet to score in their 13 combined appearances this season. Critics, such as Jamie Carragher and Emmanuel Petit, have called for Wirtz to be dropped from the starting XI and dismissed Barcola as "overrated."

However, Iraola maintains full trust in both players, emphasizing their level and promising that they will deliver good performances. Despite the criticism, Iraola believes that both Wirtz and Barcola have more to offer and will make decisive contributions for Liverpool this season.