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Iraola backs Wirtz and Barcola '100%' as Liverpool visit LASK
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๐ฐ Beaten for the first time under Iraola, Liverpool head to LASK without their three leading scorers, and the head coach has backed his big-money signings.
๐ Key points
๐ฅ Top scorers Isak, Gakpo and Szoboszlai all miss out.
๐ก๏ธ Iraola: "Barcola and Flo are players I trust 100 per cent."
๐ฐ Wirtz cost ยฃ116m and Barcola ยฃ123m.
๐ฃ๏ธ Carragher says "the Florian Wirtz signing isn't working".
๐ข Gravenberch is available because his ban is domestic only.
๐ What happened
๐ฅ Liverpool lost 3-0 to Manchester City at Anfield on 11 October, Iraola's first defeat in charge. Isak, Gakpo and Szoboszlai picked up knocks on international duty and miss the LASK game, and Iraola could not say whether they will be back for Brentford, Villarreal or Brighton. Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni are long-term absentees.
๐ก๏ธ "Barcola and Flo are players I trust 100 per cent," Iraola said. "I don't care if one scores or the other scores, it is a more collective thing." Both, he added, have had good and bad games this season like everyone else.
๐ฃ๏ธ According to Sky Sports, Wirtz has averaged 0.16 goals and 0.18 assists per 90 across 39 Premier League games, and Barcola, signed from PSG, has yet to make a real impact in six appearances. Carragher has said: "The Florian Wirtz signing isn't working."
๐ฆ๐น LASK are Austrian champions but lost 1-0 at home to AEK Athens on matchday one and have taken one point from six league games since. In qualifying they came from 4-0 down on aggregate to beat Celtic 5-4.
๐ By the numbers
โข Wirtz's fee: ยฃ116m
โข Barcola's fee: ยฃ123m
โข Wirtz per 90 in 39 PL games: 0.16 goals, 0.18 assists
โข 2023-24 Europa League meeting: Liverpool won 7-1 on aggregate
๐ What to watch
โฝ Who scores? โ With the top three scorers out, Wirtz, Barcola and Ngumoha need to deliver.
๐ง Gravenberch returns โ Available in Europe despite his domestic ban, he should anchor midfield.
๐ Youth โ Football365 suggests Joe Gomez, Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha could start.
๐ญ Why it matters
Having beaten Atlรฉtico 2-1 on matchday one, Liverpool can make it two from two and strengthen their bid for a top-eight finish. Kick-off is 5.45pm UK time on 14 October.
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