Florian Wirtz: A Fresh Start at Liverpool Under Iraola

Florian Wirtz has barely laced his boots back up at Liverpool, but already he looks and sounds like a player reborn.

Two days into pre-season under Andoni Iraola and the German playmaker is grinning his way through sessions that are sharper, quicker and built around exactly what he wants to be: a pure No.10 at the heart of everything.

A clean slate under Iraola

Iraola made it clear last week that Wirtz will operate centrally, not shunted wide. For a player who thrives between the lines, that clarity matters.

"I just can say that the training is really fun," Wirtz said. "I enjoyed every training [session]. We play a lot of games and possessions, and that’s exactly what I like. I just enjoyed it until now."

There’s a lightness in that description that was missing last year. His first season at Anfield brought seven goals and 10 assists – solid numbers, especially in a side that often misfired – but the 21-year-old isn’t pretending it was enough.

"Of course I wasn’t happy at all (last year) — about the season, I mean," he admitted. "I was not unhappy every day when I came to training, but I think we expected much more."

That line cuts to the core of Liverpool’s campaign. Functional at times, occasionally thrilling, but never quite what the club, or a player of Wirtz’s ambition, had in mind.

So he draws a line under it.

"I think we start from zero this season. Also here with this training camp, it’s a new start. We have a lot of things to do better this season and I’m very excited for season two."

Built around the No.10

A fresh manager, a fresh role, and a squad being subtly reshaped around him. The message from Iraola is simple: Wirtz is the creative hub.

The early sessions have leaned into that. Small-sided games, constant possession drills, quick combinations. The ball rarely leaves the grass for long. For a technician like Wirtz, it’s oxygen.

He now knows the spaces he’ll occupy. Central pockets, between midfield and defence, with runners ahead of him and width provided by others. No more drifting out to the flank to plug gaps. No more compromise.

And in front of him, there is a focal point worth feeding.

Isak set to lead the line

Alexander Isak, now fully fit and back in the fold, stands to benefit more than anyone from a Wirtz-centric Liverpool.

"I think he has come in a good place," Iraola said of the striker. "I think he was good in the World Cup. I saw him comfortable. First training [sessions] here, I think I’ve seen a good version of Alex."

That comfort matters. A confident Isak, constantly supplied by one of Europe’s most inventive young playmakers, gives Liverpool a very different edge.

"Still, it’s very early because he has just started training, but I hope he can have some minutes against Leeds and build properly a proper pre-season," Iraola added. "It’s not going to be very long but he will have three or four weeks of quality training, I hope, and we can put him in a good place because he is going to be massive for us this season."

If Isak is "massive", Wirtz is the one tasked with making him look that way every week.

There could be more help arriving too. Bradley Barcola remains a live option for the wing if Liverpool can strike a deal with PSG. Another runner, another outlet, another target for Wirtz’s passing range.

Klopp on the horizon

As if a new role at Liverpool wasn’t enough, Wirtz is also walking into a new era with his country.

At international level, he will now work under Jurgen Klopp, the man whose shadow still stretches over Anfield and whose reputation has clearly preceded him in the Germany camp.

"It’s very, very cool that [Klopp is] there now," Wirtz said. "I’ve not spoken to him yet but a lot of people here at the club told me about him, that he is a fantastic guy. All of Liverpool loves him. So, I’m very excited to meet him in a few months."

The irony is hard to miss. As Iraola tries to build his own identity at Liverpool, one of his key players is preparing to link up with the club’s modern icon on the international stage.

For Wirtz, it’s a perfect storm: a coach in Iraola ready to hand him the keys to Liverpool’s attack, and another in Klopp poised to shape his role in a resurgent Germany.

Last season was a foundation. Seven goals, 10 assists, flashes of what he can be. This season, there are no excuses, no caveats, no talk of adaptation.

He wanted the ball, the responsibility, and the No.10 role. Now he has all three.