Iraola backs Wirtz and Barcola as Liverpool face LASK without three top scorers

Three attackers out for Linz

Liverpool visit LASK in Austria on Wednesday, 14 October, with kick-off at 18:45 in the Champions League. Head coach Andoni Iraola will again be without Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai, the club's three leading goalscorers this season. All three carry minor injuries picked up on international duty, and Iraola said he did not know when any of them would be available. He is also unsure whether the trio will be ready for the three matches that follow, against Brentford, Villarreal and Brighton. Iraola confirmed he is likely to change his line-up in Linz, because several players took knocks in the defeat to Manchester City.

Pressure on Wirtz and Barcola

Iraola said he trusts Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola 100 per cent, while asking the rest of the squad to supply the numbers the absentees usually provide. Barcola arrived from Paris Saint-Germain for £123 million and has yet to score or assist in six appearances for Liverpool. He has also struggled to win possession in the final third. Wirtz, signed from Bayer Leverkusen for £116 million, has one assist this season and has struggled to find a role in the side.

Both players were on the pitch for the 3-0 defeat at Anfield to Manchester City on Sunday, 11 October. Wirtz was replaced by Trey Nyoni in the 66th minute, shortly after Ryan Gravenberch was sent off and Erling Haaland broke the deadlock. Iraola said the team conceded straight away after going down to ten men, and that the collective response to the red card had not been good enough. He also said he was happy with the squad's spirit, attitude and work rate, including from the offensive players. Iraola made the case for judging the pair on more than goals and assists:

Cody, Alex and Dom are our top scorers this season and now we don't have them.

Pundits press the case against Wirtz

Steven Warnock, a former Liverpool defender, told BBC Radio 5 Live that Wirtz has "so much ability" but drifts in and out of games. Warnock said Wirtz is on the pitch for only a few seconds at a time before disappearing for long spells. Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports that Wirtz should be left out of the side, a view he had already expressed before the defeat to City.

I think he needs to come out of the team, I said that last time out and I'm going to say it again,

Carragher argued that Liverpool have a real problem scoring and creating chances, which is the job Wirtz was signed to do. The BBC noted that Wirtz has seven goals and 11 assists in 56 Liverpool appearances. It contrasted him with Manchester City's Rayan Cherki, bought from Lyon for £30m in June 2025, who has 16 goals and 18 assists in 65 appearances.

What comes next

Liverpool go to Linz on Wednesday, 14 October, with their attack thinned out and their two costliest recent signings under close scrutiny. Iraola expects Wirtz and Barcola to produce good performances and says he knows their level. The three injured forwards remain doubtful for the matches that follow, and Iraola has not said when Isak, Gakpo or Szoboszlai will return.