Wirtz admits Liverpool issue as playmaker takes personal responsibility

Florian Wirtz admits Liverpool's frontmen finishing off games is something they must "work on" having seen the Reds already drop six points this season.

Three draws in their opening four games has left Liverpool someway off the pace set by Arsenal and Manchester City with Nottingham Forest and Fulham both leaving Anfield with a point.

Last weekend Liverpool failed to find a way through the Fulham defence, despite the Cottagers sitting in the bottom three of the Premier League, Forest twice led on Merseyside and Newcastle held Andoni Iraola's side on the opening weekend.

During those games Wirtz, who has been deployed centrally as the team's No.10, and record signing Alexander Isak have both underwhelmed and copped criticism. Summer signing Bradley Barcola is yet to score his first goal, missing several big chances against Atletico Madrid recently, and the German admits the Liverpool attack need to do more.

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He told the club's website : "I think we had a few games where we could have scored more goals to win the game. I have also the expectations for myself to decide games. We need me and the attackers to finish the games off, so we definitely try to work on that."

Iraola is yet to taste defeat as Liverpool boss but Wirtz admits, with just one win from four league games, they want to have amassed more points.

"It's good that we are still unbeaten," he said. "For sure we want to have more points at this stage. But I think it's still a good base to build on – let's try to keep going like that and get even more points."

Liverpool are spoilt for attacking personnel but Iraola is tasked with finding a system that can get the best from those individuals as a unit. Despite having three £100million plus players in their ranks it is Cody Gakpo who has been their best performer. Youngster Rio Ngumoha and summer arrival Victor Munoz are also seeking minutes.

Much of the spotlight has fallen on the expensive stars and Iraola has claimed that the reaction to Wirtz and his performances is overblown.

The Spaniard said: "He should be judged like everybody else, whether he plays well or doesn't play well. Mostly I always say how does the team play when you are on the pitch. I am very happy with Florian, I rate him very highly, he understands what we need from him. He is trying to help in every aspect of the game."