Ian Doyle with the main talking points from Liverpool's Premier League clash against Brighton at Anfield on Sunday afternoon
It’s just as well Andoni Iraola isn’t judging Florian Wirtz by his goals and assists. Speaking ahead of this game, the Liverpool head coach was insistent Wirtz’s contribution to the team was beyond the raw numbers on which so many players in his position are instantly assessed.
Wirtz, though, thought he had scored his second goal of the week before it was snatched from him by the Premier League and instead given as a Pascal Gross own goal. It won’t even officially count as an assist.
But as Iraola had claimed, the Germany international was key to Liverpool wresting control of a hard-fought encounter, finding spaces in between the lines, bringing Alexander Isak into the game and not averse to getting stuck in.
What’s more, the Anfield crowd were on to it.
Wirtz hasn’t always been universally admired by the home crowd despite their appreciation of his obvious talents and willingness to graft.
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But here there was vocal encouragement and recognition of his efforts, culminating in the standing ovation afforded to the 23-year-old on his substitution midway through the second half after being unable to run off a knock.
Liverpool will hope it’s nothing serious. Wirtz is becoming an important player under Iraola.
Isak and Barcola show worth
Amid the talk of fresh starts with the change in the dugout, few Liverpool players needed a reboot this season as much as Alexander Isak.
And now the striker is beginning to show why the Reds were so adamant on splashing out a club record £125million on his services last summer.
Isak’s well-taken goal for Liverpool’s second was his sixth of the season - all coming in his last six Premier League outings - and evidence of the clinical finishing he can bring to the team.
For the second weekend in a row, it came from a Bradley Barcola assist, this time providing from the right flank having teed up Isak from the left at Brentford.
Barcola now has his feet under the table at Anfield and has clearly bought into Iraola’s high-pressing approach given the way he hounded Oliver Boscagli into an error before racing into the area to tee up Isak.
At £123m, he too hasn’t come cheap. But any success for Liverpool will surely rely on the growing contribution from the big-money frontline duo.
And with Cody Gakpo grafting impressively down the left, the Reds had the attacking threat Brighton simply couldn’t muster. It was the difference here.
Anfield stirring again
Two down, two to go. A four-match run of home games that was always going to prove crucial in shaping Liverpool’s immediate future continues in encouraging fashion.
This was a very different victory to the one against Villarreal in the Champions League in midweek although no less deserved.
And there’s real credence in the suggestion it was the Reds’ most notable domestic result at Anfield since Newcastle United were despatched 4-1 way back in January.
Iraola’s first home Premier League win at the fourth attempt, it was also only the fifth time Liverpool had won at Anfield in 14 top-flight matches since the turn of the year.
Once again, the Reds’ youngsters played their part, although this time it was from the bench. Lewis Koumas was introduced to pester the Brighton backline and Rio Ngumoha to relieve pressure by advancing the ball upfield, but teenage midfielder Trey Nyoni was the most impressive, the tone set with a fine sliding block with his first touch.
Chelsea and a reunion with Xabi Alonso is up next in the League Cup on Wednesday before the visit next Sunday of Arsenal, the team who usurped Liverpool as champions last season.
Fortress Anfield hasn’t been rebuilt just yet. But the last week has shown signs of it stirring once again.
