There was room for so much disappointment for Liverpool against Brentford. The Premier League scriptwriters had their pens at the ready, waiting to signal a change in narrative for Andoni Iraola just one week after a 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Manchester City.
Keane Lewis-Potter’s opening goal may have even got those pens moving for the first time, only for Victor Munoz and Alexander Isak to tear that script apart and pencil in a third Premier League win for Liverpool’s new manager.
How Liverpool are finally getting the best out of Isak
Strikers are a strange breed, aren’t they? 10 years ago, they were beginning to take the most touches within the frontline, often dropping deep and almost acting as the No.10 and No.9 all at once. It was dubbed the false nine and Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino played it to perfection.
And then Erling Haaland, Igor Thiago, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Isak emerged. The idea of a false nine was quickly put to bed. The strikers were here to score goals and not waste their time travelling to the defensive third.
The result is one that Liverpool fans are just about getting used to, largely thanks to the revival of Isak in his second season at Anfield. With runners around him following the arrival of Bradley Barcola and Victor Munoz, plus the emergence of Rio Ngumoha, the Swede is finally in his comfort zone inside the six-yard box.
The numbers show that Isak took just 16 touches against Brentford. They will also show that one of those touches ended up in the back of the net to hand Liverpool their winning goal. And that is the only stat that should matter in the eyes of Iraola.
After five goals in six Premier League appearances this season, Isak has finally announced himself in a Liverpool shirt. The task now for the rest of his teammates is to keep teeing him up and joining what is quickly becoming a vintage celebration in red.
The good news doesn’t end there, either. Alongside Isak, another big-money Liverpool star enjoyed one of his best games at the club against Brentford.
Iraola has found his new Kroupi at Liverpool
A lot has been made about Liverpool’s attack. Whilst the Reds kept three-straight clean sheets before the international break, there were understandable concerns that the goals weren’t exactly flowing. Man City’s 3-0 thrashing then turned increased the sound of those alarm bells.
As it turns out, however, a trip to face LASK can quickly act as the perfect antidote to a goal drought. Barcola came away with a hat-trick, before assisting Isak’s winner in West London, and most importantly, Wirtz found his form.
So, with that antidote swiftly downed, it was little surprise that the latter picked up where he left off and finally reaped the rewards against Brentford. For all the criticism and concern that Wirtz cannot and will not survive the Premier League battle, he entered one of England’s toughest environments and took full control.
Before Liverpool’s trip to West London, only Man City had secured a Premier League victory at Brentford in the last 12 months. Chelsea’s electric front three attempted it and fell short, others did the same. Liverpool, buoyed by Wirtz’s refreshing control, dragged themselves over the line.
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Florian Wirtz vs Brentford |
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|---|---|
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Minutes |
90 |
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Assists |
1 |
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Chances created |
9 (most on the pitch) |
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Distance covered |
13.4km (most on the pitch) |
For Liverpool, it’s the arrival of a big-money star who simply has to complete a full turnaround at the club. For Iraola, it’s the arrival of his new Eli Junior Kroupi, who played such an integral part of Bournemouth’s rise under the Spaniard.
Dropping into the No.10 role last season, Bournemouth’s attack flowed through the Frenchman just like Liverpool’s did through Wirtz on Saturday afternoon.
Kroupi took an average of 4.49 touches in the opposition’s box last season. Iraola wanted his attacking midfielder in the most dangerous area and not any deeper.
Against Brentford, Wirtz had great success in similar fashion – taking six touches inside the area. The numbers are starting to arrive now, too.
After Kroupi was involved in 13 goals last season, Wirtz has secured two assists in his last two games. The tide is beginning to turn for the big-money German, who may yet salvage his Liverpool career in style.
