Iraola says Florian Wirtz’s ankle injury is not serious after Brighton win

Andoni Iraola says Florian Wirtz suffered a minor ankle twist during Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Brighton in the eighth round of the Premier League.

The German midfielder was forced to leave the field during the match, but Liverpool manager Iraola said the injury did not appear to be serious.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Iraola praised his team’s performance and said they had been determined to make a strong start.

“The players were really excellent,” said the Spanish manager. “We were very focused on starting strongly and scoring the first goal.”

Liverpool secured the three points by beating Brighton 2-0, with the result coming in their eighth Premier League fixture of the season.

On Wirtz’s contribution, Iraola said the player’s influence could not be judged only by his statistics.

“Florian Wirtz? Whether they passed him the ball or not, he gave us the goal,” he said. “It is not just about the numbers; it is about the fact that we are better with him on the pitch.”

“He had to leave because of a slight twist in his ankle, but it does not look serious.”

Iraola also highlighted the pace added to Liverpool’s attack by Bradley Barcola, particularly when running in behind the defensive line.

“With the speed that Bradley Barcola has and the way he plays behind the lines, we now have more pace in the attacking line,” he added.