McManaman: Hope Wirtz Can Adapt to the Premier League and Flourish Under Iraola

According to the Liverpool Echo, McManaman said on a programme that he hopes Wirtz can have a breakthrough this season under Iraola.

After joining from Bayer Leverkusen for a high fee last summer, Wirtz's debut season at Anfield did not go smoothly. Slot's team struggled throughout the period before his departure and eventually changed managers on May 30. Wirtz scored 7 goals and provided 8 assists for Liverpool last season, but for the Reds it was a difficult campaign to remember: the team lost 20 matches in all competitions and only secured fifth place in the Champions League qualification spots on the final day of the season.

Now, with Basque coach Iraola replacing Slot in early June, Wirtz has started playing under his new manager. Former England midfielder McManaman said Wirtz's style of play appeals to him, while also calling on the 23-year-old to show his true ability at Liverpool.

McManaman said: “To be honest, I was very excited when Wirtz joined, but young players such as Ekitike, Isak and Giovanni Leoni all suffered serious injuries, so the luck was not great. But the person I am most looking forward to seeing more from is someone like Wirtz.”

“When he was at Bayer Leverkusen, I really enjoyed watching him play. He is exactly the type of player I like. Some of his touches and ball control are beautiful, but there were not enough performances like that last year. I hope that now, in his second Premier League season, he can truly become stronger.”

I do not mean only physical battles, but overall. I hope he can become more accustomed to the Premier League, to the physicality and pace here. I am willing to believe he can leave his mark this season, because I really love his style of play.

McManaman added: “To be honest, I already liked Iraola before he came to Liverpool. I have always appreciated his style of football, and I think he did an excellent job at Bournemouth, which nobody can deny. He had left that position and was also in contact with Bayer Leverkusen for a period of time, and he was close to going to AC Milan, so I think if Liverpool really wanted to appoint him, this summer was the best time to make the move.”

Of course, nobody wants to see a head coach dismissed, and that was the case with Slot. But if they believe Iraola is a better fit, can bring new energy to the club, play a different style of football — one that is more in line with the attacking football fans want — then this appointment can only be considered the right decision.