Andoni Iraola on Florian Wirtz, Victor Munoz and the prospect of a changed Liverpool team against Villarreal

Andoni Iraola believes Florian Wirtz is being "over scrutinised" for his performances as the Liverpool boss highlighted an impressive week for the playmaker.

Wirtz came in for criticism after the Reds' 3-0 defeat to Manchester City earlier this month and with nearly 60 appearances to his name as a Liverpool player, the Germany international is still looking replicate the Bayer Leverkusen form that made him a £116m player on a consistent basis at Anfield.

The attacking midfielder shone in LASK last Wednesday, however, as Iraola's men beat the Austrian side 6-3 and he created nine chances in total, including an assist for Victor Munoz, against Brentford on Saturday as the visitors won 2-1 at the Gtech Community Stadium.

That chance creation rate was the highest by a Liverpool player since Sadio Mane five years ago and Iraola challenged Wirtz to continue his good week but says the discourse around the No.7 is sometimes too much.

"I think he is coming in from two very good games," Iraola said. "He played really well at LASK away and the other day against Brentford. He helped the team a lot, in and out of possession and I hope we can keep him there, no?

"You ask me basically every day about him and we analyse and over scrutinise everything about him but when he does well also, it is fair to say.

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“I am thinking of putting out the best starting XI I can against Villarreal but maybe it is not the one you are thinking because some players are not fresh enough and probably it is better someone who is more fresh to start.

"I am analysing the game and thinking how can we put a good starting XI, also thinking in the second half how we can affect with the changes.

"We know we have a very busy schedule until the next international break but we have to take the games one by one because it changes. You cannot plan too much as we have recovered Ryan Gravenberch but we have lost Dom Szoboszlai and Jeremie Frimpong and the next game is going to be different.

"We go one by one and focus on how the players have recovered. It was probably most demanding game in terms of running stats that we have played against Brentford because they demand this. It is important everyone who starts tomorrow feels ready to go and feels 100%."

On Munoz, who equalised from the unfamiliar role of right-back against Brentford, Iraola added: "Victor is a player we know very well. I also have a great relationship with Alessio Lisci who was his manager last season, he speaks of him very well.

"Once you have a player, you really understand what are his (traits), what he gives to the group. Attitude wise, he is ready to help, he plays right, left, the other day he played right back.

"He is a player with hunger, he has not played professionally in a big club like Liverpool but he has been in the academy of Barcelona and Real Madrid, trained with those teams and knows the level that is required in those teams.

"With the national team, he is having experience and he is a player that is adapting really well."

Liverpool can make it three straight victories in the Champions League when they host Villarreal on Tuesday night.