Liverpool's Victory Over Bournemouth Reveals Major Midfield Problems

Liverpool successfully secured three points from their trip to Bournemouth's home ground in a Premier League match on Sunday (14/9/2026) evening WIB. Alexander Isak's lone goal was enough to bring The Reds home with a 1-0 victory, maintaining their unbeaten record at the start of the 2026/27 season. However, behind this positive result, a big question arises regarding the effectiveness of the attacking line, particularly the role of attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz, who once again failed to meet expectations.

This victory places Liverpool in the top six of the provisional standings, with four wins from their last five matches in all competitions. Nevertheless, the performance of Andoni Iraola's team has not been entirely convincing. Their first two matches against Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United ended in draws, and even the win over Bournemouth was hard-fought. The main spotlight is on Wirtz, a £116 million signing from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2025, who has yet to show consistency at the Premier League level.

In the match against Bournemouth, Wirtz played for 71 minutes but only registered 53 touches—fewer than goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who had 55 touches. He also completed only 70% of his 37 passes, failed to deliver a single accurate cross, and lost possession 15 times. These statistics resulted in a 3/10 rating from several pundits, making him one of the lowest-rated players among the starters.

The problems are not limited to Wirtz. Left-back Milos Kerkez, returning to Vitality Stadium after moving from Bournemouth in 2025, also delivered a disappointing performance. He failed to complete any of his crosses, had no successful dribbles, and lost 57% of his ground duels. Kerkez even committed four fouls, indicating difficulty adapting to the pressure from his former supporters. Meanwhile, new winger Bradley Barcola, signed for £123 million, has also yet to show impressive form. He lost all his ground duels, made no tackles, and lost possession in all three of his dribble attempts.

Nevertheless, Iraola deserves credit for maintaining positive momentum. In the context of the competitive Premier League, a narrow away victory is still valuable. However, with the upcoming international break, the manager will have time to evaluate his best lineup. A difficult decision awaits: will he continue to place trust in the astronomically priced Wirtz, or start looking for other options in midfield to boost attacking productivity?

"Wirtz has been given many opportunities by various managers over the last 12 months, but he has not been able to capitalize on them. This might be a controversial decision given his hefty price tag, but Iraola needs to bench him next time," wrote Football FanCast analyst, Ethan, in his review.

For Liverpool fans in Indonesia, this situation reflects how pressure at big clubs often outweighs the magnitude of transfer fees. Wirtz, considered one of the best attacking midfielders of his generation in Germany, is still struggling to find his rhythm in England. If this trend continues, it is not impossible that he will lose his place in the starting XI, especially with a packed schedule demanding smart rotation. The Premier League is indeed a cruel league: a high price tag does not guarantee a starting spot, and on-field performance is the true currency.

Looking ahead, the big question is whether Iraola will be brave enough to take decisive action. With Liverpool's ambition to compete at the top again, the decision regarding Wirtz could be a turning point this season. If the midfielder can bounce back, he could still be key. But if his struggles continue, the bench seems increasingly likely. Will Iraola sacrifice ego for team balance? Time will tell, but public and media pressure will not wait.