Houston: Liverpools new head coach Andoni Iraola will use the World Cup as a fact-finding mission on the players he has inherited, as well as scouting those he could add to refresh a squad that suffered in a miserable defence of their Premier League title. As he settles in after succeeding sacked Arne Slot, Spaniard Iraola will have had an intriguing day gathering intelligence as he had an interest in all games on day four of the tournament.
According to BBC, Iraola's attention was particularly drawn to Florian Wirtz, who arrived at Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen last summer amid great fanfare in a then-British record £116m deal but has yet to meet expectations. Wirtz's performance in Germany's 7-1 win against Curacao in their opening World Cup game was promising. Although the opponent was ranked 82nd in the world, Wirtz displayed impressive skills, especially playing on the left, which might provide Iraola with new tactical options.
Former England striker Chris Sutton commented from Houston for BBC Radio 5 Live, noting Wirtz's creative play and freedom on the field. Sutton observed that Wirtz appeared unburdened, a stark contrast to his previous season at Liverpool. Meanwhile, Virgil van Dijk's performance for the Netherlands in their 2-2 draw with Japan reaffirmed his integral role in Iraola's Liverpool plans. Van Dijk, who will turn 35 in July, was pivotal in defence and scored a goal, underscoring his continued value.
Ryan Gravenberch also played a significant role, assisting Van Dijk's goal and contributing to the Dutch team's efforts. In a unique statistical achievement, Gravenberch's assist marked only the second World Cup goal scored and assisted by Liverpool players, a feat last achieved in 1966. On the other hand, Cody Gakpo, another member of Liverpool's Dutch contingent, had a subdued match against Japan, continuing his struggle to regain form.
RB Leipzig's 19-year-old Yan Diomande is being considered as a potential addition to fill the vacancy left by Mohamed Salah. Diomande impressed in Ivory Coast's 1-0 win against Ecuador, showing versatility and promise. With Iraola's track record of developing young talents, Diomande could be a fitting addition to Liverpool's squad.
Alexander Isak, who endured a challenging season with Liverpool due to injuries and loss of form, demonstrated his potential during Sweden's 5-1 victory over Tunisia. Isak's performance, including a goal and an assist, was a positive sign for Iraola as he seeks to reinvigorate his squad. The World Cup serves as a critical platform for Iraola to evaluate and strategize for Liverpool's future success.