Wirtz’s worth ‘not all about statistics’
Andoni Iraola has insisted Florian Wirtz should be judged by his influence on Liverpool rather than statistics and believes the player’s impact will increase as his rapport with a new-look attack develops.
Wirtz impressed in Liverpool’s defeat of Atlético Madrid on Wednesday, having also produced some of his best performances last season in the Champions League. But he has also come in for criticism this season for the amount of times he has conceded possession. The £116m Germany international has one assist and no goals in the Premier League so far.
“Flo played very well against Atlético Madrid and I also think he has been unlucky,” said Iraola. “I remember the ‘goal’ he scored against Nottingham Forest; they gave it live and then VAR disallowed it. He could have had very good assists but we haven’t finished them. That is why you cannot just play because of the numbers.
“Whether a striker scores a lot of goals or he doesn’t, you have to look at the performances. Does he help us to play well? Yes. Well, someone will score the goals and someone will give the assists. I am not too focused on numbers. Nowadays everything is about numbers, everyone tells players you have to assist, you have to score goals. For me, you have to help us play well. Someone will score the goals and I don’t care if it is the midfielders like it was the other day. Someone will score the goals if we are doing well collectively.
“There is an argument to make that the wingers have changed more than anywhere else,” Iraola said. “Now we have new weapons we can use with Bradley and Victor. With Florian, he is key for us. I am not worried because he will quickly learn where Victor prefers the ball or where Bradley prefers the ball. And, also, Bradley in just his second game you could see they already had a good association. I am not very worried.” Andy Hunter
Grealish ‘can be a wingers’ role model’
David Moyes has told Jack Grealish he wants him to become a role model at Everton for fellow wingers Tyrique George and Tyler Dibling.
Grealish made an immediate impact from the bench against Manchester United last Sunday in his first outing since rejoining Everton on loan from Manchester City. Despite a lack of minutes in pre-season, as he recovered from the fractured foot that curtailed his first campaign with Everton, the 31-year-old could start for Moyes’s side at Tottenham on Saturday. The Everton manager wants Grealish to take on more responsibility this season.
“Jack knows when he comes here there is an opportunity for him to play and to show what he can do,” Moyes said. “But I also want him to be a senior professional and a role model. We’ve got Tyrique and Tyler and if ever you are looking at somebody for how to play as a wide player, Jack Grealish would certainly be one of them.
“I think both of them could learn an awful lot from Jack and I want him to become that senior citizen among them, somebody who teaches them. We’ve got a mature Jack Grealish now as well in terms of understanding the game and being a team player – not that he is an individual but he plays with an individual style.”
Moyes believes there is greater expectation on Grealish given it is his second season at the club and there is a need to fill the creative gap created by Iliman Ndiaye’s departure. “If there is one person who would be able to carry that it would be Jack, just because of the way he is,” he added.
“He’s had six and a half months out. He’s had no pre-season games, he came on for 15 minutes in the Community Shield, so he’s had no real football and Jack is someone who thrives on the football. He gets himself fit through the games more so than the training. We need to be careful and see how he goes but he’s looking good.” Andy Hunter
João Pedro ‘as good as Haaland’, says Alonso
Xabi Alonso has claimed João Pedro is at Erling Haaland’s level and similar in style to Karim Benzema. The Chelsea striker has reacted to missing out on Brazil’s World Cup squad by making an excellent start to the season and was named the Premier League’s player of the month on Friday.
João Pedro has scored twice in his first three league appearances and has formed an exciting attacking trio with Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers. Chelsea have scored 16 goals in all competitions and Alonso did not hold back when asked if the 24-year-old is as good as Haaland. “I would say yes,” Chelsea’s manager said. “If you count how many top strikers we have in the Premier League, I’m sure that João is there. Haaland for sure is there. So I would rate him that way.”
The range of João Pedro’s game has added to his threat. Alonso played with Benzema at Real Madrid and sees similarities between the pair. “In many things he reminds me of Benzema,” he said. “He is good in the box, he is good out of the box, he is good coming to his left side, he is good with the head, he is very complete, he is intelligent. Still young, still things to develop, but many, many absolutely outstanding qualities.”
Chelsea host Hull on Saturday afternoon and will be looking for a strong home performances after fighting back from 2-0 down to beat Leeds 6-3 in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.
Palmer was key to the comeback and revealed that Alonso, who had rotated heavily, ripped into his players at half-time against Leeds. “I was angry with myself that I didn’t help the players to play better or have a better feeling,” Alonso said. “There is a moment that you try to explain what is not working well, try to make preparations and then there is a moment that you need to kick their arse a little bit, in a nice way. It worked – not for me but the players who came on with a better quality and better everything in the second half.”
Chelsea will again be without Moisés Caicedo. The midfielder is yet to start this season and Alonso does not want to risk him. Jacob Steinberg
De Zerbi wants exiled Richarlison to stay
Roberto De Zerbi insists he does not regret the handling of Richarlison’s situation at Tottenham after the forward was omitted from his Premier League squad, even though Spurs are yet to score in the competition.
De Zerbi said Richarlison had in effect exiled himself by refusing to sign a new contract and repeatedly saying he wanted to leave. The 29-year-old’s absence looks increasingly unfortunate for Spurs after three league matches. They have never gone four league games without scoring at the start of a season.
De Zerbi described Richarlison’s omission as a “consequence” of the Brazilian’s actions over the past month and a half. A deadline-day move to Everton, who visit the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, collapsed after Spurs had signed replacements. Richarlison continues to train with the first team. “If I had decided myself to leave him outside of the squad, I would have regrets,” De Zerbi said. “But the decision has not even been taken by the club.”
The Italian said it would be “much better” if Richarlison were in his squad, happy to stay and “maybe to extend his contract, because he is still an important player, he was important last season, we can’t forget. But we can’t forget also the last 45 days.”
De Zerbi is missing last season’s three top scorers: Richarlison, João Palhinha, who left for Benfica, and Cristian Romero, who joined Atlético Madrid. Mykhailo Mudryk signed on loan from Chelsea, picked up an injury in training. An ankle scan revealed ligament damage that will keep the winger out for about six weeks. De Zerbi feels the “silly injury”, caused by playing too much after being out for so long, could have been avoided.
Sávio arrived from Manchester City for £75m, closely followed by Omar Marmoush on loan. Marmoush scored only 10 league goals in a season and a half at Manchester City, but was more prolific in the Bundesliga at Eintracht Frankfurt. “In terms of goals he’s not Harry Kane but he can score more goals than he has done in the last two seasons,” De Zerbi said.
“If you analyse his qualities, he can score more goals and he has to demand more goals from himself. Even the stupid goals, he has to change his habits after being used to scoring the great goals.”
Meanwhile, Lucas Bergvall has signed a new long-term contract. The 20-year-old wanted to leave in the summer but was convinced to stay by De Zerbi. Sam Cunningham
