Why criticism of Florian Wirtz’s performance vs Ipswich should not concern Liverpool at all

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What did you think of Bradley Barcola’s Liverpool debut against Ipswich? He’s had 14, 15 months, I mean how long do you give somebody and at the end of the day you need Szoboszlai in the middle, 30 yards from goal where teams are absolutely scared stiff and are going to have to come out and close him down.

You’re not getting the best out of Szoboszlai and you’re getting nothing from Wirtz. “If you put Szoboszlai higher up you’re absolutely getting everything, including defending from the front.

Iraola has given him three games and it’s now time.”Wirtz actually played well against IpswichSome Liverpool fans reading Nicol’s comments may be wondering whether they were watching a different game to the one he had on.Wirtz certainly could have done more, and he does still make some slightly infuriating decisions on the ball, but that does not mean he had a bad game at all.The 23-year-old would have had an excellent assist but for Alexander Isak being marginally offside, and he still created two chances, completed three dribbles and covered 11.8km – more than anyone else for Liverpool.While you are often still left wanting more from Wirtz, he was a big part of why Liverpool were able to win Friday’s game in comfortable fashion. Ronald Araujo was SUPERB against Ipswich Photo Credit: Getty Images/Liverpool FC The hope is that the goals and assists will still come, but it is also fair to point out that Wirtz has been unlucky so far this season.He claimed a good assist for Victor Munoz against Nottingham Forest last weekend, and but for two very, very tight offside calls he would have had a goal in that game and another assist against Ipswich.That shows that Wirtz is contributing in the final third, as well as running his socks off every game and, despite what Nicol insists, he is good in the press and regularly tops Liverpool’s stats for ball regains.Like the rest of the Liverpool squad, he is improving all the time, and though he is still being held to ridiculously high standards, Wirtz is absolutely not a worry for Reds fans right now.Instead of sticking the boot in at every opportunity, former players like Nicol should be examining the details of Wirtz’s game and highlighting just what a key cog he is becoming in Liverpool’s new-look machine.