1. Wirtz\u2019s worth \u2018not all about statistics\u2019<\/p>\n
Andoni Iraola has insisted Florian Wirtz should be judged by his influence on Liverpool rather than statistics and believes the player\u2019s impact will increase as his rapport with a new-look attack develops.<\/p>\n
Wirtz impressed in Liverpool\u2019s defeat of Atl\u00e9tico Madrid<\/a> 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 \u00a3116m Germany international has one assist and no goals in the Premier League so far.<\/p>\n \u201cFlo played very well against Atl\u00e9tico Madrid and I also think he has been unlucky,\u201d said Iraola. \u201cI remember the \u2018goal\u2019 he scored against Nottingham Forest; they gave it live and then VAR disallowed it. He could have had very good assists but we haven\u2019t finished them. That is why you cannot just play because of the numbers.<\/p>\n \u201cWhether a striker scores a lot of goals or he doesn\u2019t, 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\u2019t care if it is the midfielders like it was the other day. Someone will score the goals if we are doing well collectively.\u201d<\/p>\n Wirtz created an excellent chance for Bradley Barcola against Atl\u00e9tico and Iraola believes the 23-year-old will exert a greater influence as his understanding with the France international and fellow new signing Victor Mu\u00f1oz improves.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is an argument to make that the wingers have changed more than anywhere else,\u201d Iraola said. \u201cNow 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.\u201d Andy Hunter<\/p>\n 2. Grealish \u2018can be a wingers\u2019 role model\u2019<\/p>\n David Moyes has told Jack Grealish he wants him to become a role model at Everton for fellow wingers Tyrique George and Tyler Dibling.<\/p>\n Grealish made an immediate impact from the bench against Manchester United last Sunday<\/a> 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\u2019s side at Tottenham on Saturday. The Everton manager wants Grealish to take on more responsibility this season.<\/p>\n \u201cJack knows when he comes here there is an opportunity for him to play and to show what he can do,\u201d Moyes said. \u201cBut I also want him to be a senior professional and a role model. We\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n \u201cI 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\u2019ve got a mature Jack Grealish now as well in terms of understanding the game and being a team player \u2013 not that he is an individual but he plays with an individual style.\u201d<\/p>\n 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\u2019s departure. \u201cIf there is one person who would be able to carry that it would be Jack, just because of the way he is,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Jack Grealish made an immediate impact from the bench against Manchester United last Sunday in his first outing since rejoining Everton on loan. Photograph: Adam Vaughan\/EPA<\/p>\n \u201cHe will find it easy to carry expectation and he\u2019ll be happy to do so. That\u2019s his character. Everybody wants Jack to get back to where he was. His first three months for us last season was hugely important in getting us wins so now it is about getting him right to perform at that level again.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s had six and a half months out. He\u2019s had no pre-season games, he came on for 15 minutes in the Community Shield, so he\u2019s 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\u2019s looking good.\u201d Andy Hunter<\/p>\n 3. Jo\u00e3o Pedro \u2018as good as Haaland\u2019, says Alonso<\/p>\n Xabi Alonso has claimed Jo\u00e3o Pedro is at Erling Haaland\u2019s level and similar in style to Karim Benzema. The Chelsea striker has reacted to missing out on Brazil\u2019s World Cup squad by making an excellent start to the season and was named the Premier League\u2019s player of the month on Friday.<\/p>\n Jo\u00e3o 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. \u201cI would say yes,\u201d Chelsea\u2019s manager said. \u201cIf you count how many top strikers we have in the Premier League, I\u2019m sure that Jo\u00e3o is there. Haaland for sure is there. So I would rate him that way.\u201d<\/p>\n The range of Jo\u00e3o Pedro\u2019s game has added to his threat. Alonso played with Benzema at Real Madrid and sees similarities between the pair. \u201cIn many things he reminds me of Benzema,\u201d he said. \u201cHe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n 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<\/a> in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.<\/p>\n Jo\u00e3o Pedro has scored twice in his first three league appearances for Chelsea. Photograph: Paul Childs\/Action Images\/Reuters<\/p>\n Palmer was key to the comeback and revealed that Alonso, who had rotated heavily, ripped into his players at half-time against Leeds. \u201cI was angry with myself that I didn\u2019t help the players to play better or have a better feeling,\u201d Alonso said. \u201cThere 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 \u2013 not for me but the players who came on with a better quality and better everything in the second half.\u201d<\/p>\n Chelsea will again be without Mois\u00e9s Caicedo. The midfielder is yet to start this season and Alonso does not want to risk him. Jacob Steinberg<\/p>\n 4. De Zerbi wants exile Richarlison to stay<\/p>\n