Bodies in the Box: How One Instruction Unlocked Selhurst Park
If you want a single moment that sums up what Andoni Iraola is trying to build, we would point to the 54th minute at Selhurst Park. Bradley Barcola burst clear, looked up, and found Florian Wirtz arriving exactly where his coach had asked him to be. One touch, goal, and Liverpool were well on their way to a 3-1 win that sends them into the international break sitting fourth and still unbeaten on the road.
A plan that paid off
Wirtz was quick to give the credit to Iraola afterwards. The message from the bench had been simple: get more players into the penalty area. It sounds obvious, but plenty of sides talk about it and few actually do it with discipline. Here, Liverpool did, and the German’s first Premier League goal of 2026-27 was the reward.
This was not a game where Liverpool battered Crystal Palace. It was one where they took their moments. Alexis Mac Allister put them ahead before half time, Wirtz doubled it after the break, and Alexander Isak sealed it. That ruthlessness is exactly what you need away from home against a team that will make life awkward.
Read more: Selhurst Park Grit Shows Iraola’s Liverpool Have Learned to Win Ugly
Our take on Wirtz
We have been waiting for Wirtz to settle into a rhythm this season, and this felt like a genuine step forward. He was composed in the box, clever with his movement and increasingly influential in the pockets between midfield and defence. He also spoke about how efficient the team had been, and you could see that collective focus throughout.
There is still work to do, particularly at Anfield, where results have not always matched the effort. But with Mac Allister dictating the tempo, Wirtz growing into his role and Isak providing the finishing, Iraola has a foundation worth building on once the players return from international duty.
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