World Cup offers Iraola insight into Liverpool squad

Liverpool's new head coach Andoni Iraola is using the World Cup as a fact-finding mission to evaluate the players he has inherited and scout potential additions, as he looks to revive a squad that endured a miserable defence of their Premier League title last season. The Spaniard, who succeeded the sacked Arne Slot after arriving from Bournemouth, had a busy day gathering intelligence on day four of the tournament, with an interest in all the matches.

Can Iraola unlock Florian Wirtz?

Florian Wirtz arrived at Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen last summer in a then-British record £116 million deal, but the 23-year-old forward fell far short of expectations, remaining an enigma. One of Iraola's main tasks is to find a settled position for the German to release the talent he demonstrated before moving to Anfield.

Iraola will have been intrigued by Wirtz's performance in Germany's 7-1 win against Curacao in their opening World Cup game. While the opposition, ranked 82nd in the world, was weak, Wirtz showed golden touches in the colours of his country. In his first campaign at Anfield, Wirtz often appeared a square peg in a round hole, playing behind the strikers and on the flanks without flourishing. In Houston, he played on the left, perhaps giving Iraola food for thought, especially as Cody Gakpo had a poor season in that position. Wirtz created Germany's opening goal for Felix Nmecha with a delicate touch and quick thinking that eluded him for much of last term. He had 39 touches in the final third and was instrumental as Germany ran riot.

Former England striker Chris Sutton, commentating for BBC Radio 5 Live, said: "The mitigation must be that this was Curacao, but the Liverpool fans who watched the game, especially in the first half, would be wondering if it was the same Florian Wirtz who played for them last season. He looked happy in a German jersey, at ease and playing with freedom." Sutton added: "He was sharp off the left, drifting inside to play quick, incisive passes. He was creative and cunning. He looked unburdened. He was a real menace with Jamal Musiala." Iraola will hope to lift the weight off Wirtz's shoulders at Liverpool.

Mixed fortunes for Iraola's Dutch trio

Virgil van Dijk will remain one of the main pillars of Iraola's new Liverpool era, a impression confirmed by his performance for the Netherlands in their 2-2 draw with Japan in Dallas. The result was a disappointment for Ronald Koeman's side, who lost the lead twice, but Van Dijk was voted man of the match. The 34-year-old, who will turn 35 in July, scored a goal and was the main barrier of resistance in a Dutch defence that occasionally looked uncertain. He put the Netherlands ahead after 51 minutes with a precise header, and as Japan pressed late on, Van Dijk almost saw out the win with a succession of towering headers.

Ryan Gravenberch, whom Iraola hopes will return to the majestic form he displayed as a holding midfielder when Liverpool won the Premier League in Slot's first season, was solid and created Van Dijk's opening goal with an inviting cross. In a statistical quirk, Gravenberch's delivery for Van Dijk is only the second ever World Cup goal scored and assisted by a Liverpool player, after Ian Callaghan set up Roger Hunt for England against France in 1966. Gravenberch also provided the assist for Crysencio Summerville's second goal for the Dutch.

Iraola, however, may have wanted to see more from the third member of Liverpool's Dutch contingent, as Cody Gakpo had a subdued match.