Andoni Iraola hailed Florian Wirtz's creative influence after the Germany international helped Liverpool come from behind to beat Brentford.
After a chaotic finish to the first half of Saturday's game, which saw Keane Lewis-Potter put Brentford in front before Yehor Yarmoliuk was sent off, Wirtz helped Liverpool complete a second-half fightback.
He assisted Victor Munoz's equaliser, before Alexander Isak fired home on his return from injury to put the Reds 2-1 up.
Despite a few nervy moments late on, Iraola's side held on, with Brentford being reduced to nine men in stoppage time as Vitaly Janelt felled Rio Ngumoha from behind, having already been booked for dissent.
Wirtz's assist was his second in the Premier League this season, both of which have been for Munoz, after the duo also combined for a goal against Nottingham Forest in August.
Having come under fire for his performances since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen, Wirtz created nine chances from open play on Saturday, becoming the first player to achieve that feat in a single Premier League game since January 2021.
On that occasion, it was Sadio Mane who teed up nine opportunities from open play, also for Liverpool against Burnley. The previous player to do so for an away team, meanwhile, was Samir Nasri for Manchester City against Tottenham in August 2011 (10).
Asked about Wirtz's influence after Brentford received their first red card, Iraola said: "I think, especially in the second half, it's the situation where if you need a player there, you need Flo.
"It's like when you're going with Rio, it's very similar. There are very few spaces, small pockets, no time on the ball… there are some delicate things you have to find because Brentford are a team that defend their box really, really well.
"I think you need players like Flo, like Rio, like Victor, who was lovely when attacking against the full-back and who can make the difference."
Munoz magic to bring us level https://t.co/0Nel3RnsXD
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 17, 2026
While Iraola was pleased with large aspects of Liverpool's performance, he acknowledged they should have managed the situation better after going 2-1 up.
"I think we played really well in the minutes up until we scored to make it 2-1 against 10 players. We were being patient and finding good positions and were in control," he said.
"I was probably more disappointed after we scored, because after you score to make it 2-1, then you feel like you have something to lose.
"We missed clear counters to finish the game and it put us back overall. But I think the situation against 10 players, we dealt with that quite well."
Brentford's first red card was widely debated in the aftermath of the game, with Yarmoliuk appearing to thrust his head into Jeremy Jacquet while the players were jostling before a corner, although the Liverpool centre-back went down theatrically.
Iraola would not be drawn on that debate, saying: "I think it's a hard one. I have to say that. I've seen it on the screen, but I still don't know. I'm not sure."
But Keith Andrews had a clear view on it, saying: "I do think they [Liverpool] were cute and clever, but Yarmo needs to do better, so I can understand why it was a red.
"If you look at where Jacquet is walking, he's not looking at the ball, is he? He's walking into Yarmo."
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