Andoni Iraola introduced Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Bradley Barcola as substitutes in Liverpool's Champions League clash with Villarreal, making it the most expensive trio of substitutions in the history of the game. The three players cost a combined £364m, with each costing in excess of £100m.
Wirtz came on at half-time for goalscorer Ronald Araujo as part of a tactical tweak. Isak then replaced Lewis Koumas down the centre of the attack, while Barcola was introduced to the rapturous applause that accompanied the departing Rio Ngumoha.
Rotation Strategy Takes Shape
The fact that all three were benched for the match highlights the sudden strength in attacking depth at Iraola's disposal. It also shows the Basque is not bothered about reputation or price tag as he develops his approach to rotation.
Iraola admitted during the opening weeks of the season that he was unsure how best to cope with the relentless churn of matches, given it was a new experience in his managerial career. At Bournemouth, he had time to rest players during midweeks between matches to wring every last drop out of his preferred high-octane approach.
Comparison with Predecessor
Predecessor Arne Slot preferred consistency of selection over heavy rotation. That method served Liverpool well at the start of his tenure, but the Reds were running out of steam towards the end of their title-winning campaign under the Dutchman.
Part of that was down to the suspicion Slot did not fully trust a number of his fringe players, and that the latest batch of youngsters, such as Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni, were not quite ready for continued first-team exposure. Slot was at least correct on that score, with Iraola the beneficiary of that lengthy bedding-in process for the teenage duo, who both impressed on their second successive Champions League starts on Tuesday.
Selection Justified
Iraola has made at least three changes in each of Liverpool's last seven games, the first time that has happened since the Jurgen Klopp era. His selection against Villarreal was not as seismic as the trip to the Bernabeu in November 2014, when Brendan Rodgers rested both Steven Gerrard and Raheem Sterling.
In isolation, each decision from Iraola appeared justified. Virgil van Dijk and Jeremy Jacquet were the only two outfield players with more minutes than Wirtz this season, while Barcola had started the previous three games and Isak only returned from injury at the weekend.
Lewis Koumas, the 21-year-old Wales international, made a third start in four games down the middle, while Cody Gakpo was making his first appearance since a brief spell out injured. Ngumoha's two assists on the right lit up Anfield and cemented his place as a regular first-team option, all while Victor Munoz, scorer of the equaliser at Brentford, was unavailable.
Having fretted about the lack of attacking options for much of the summer, Liverpool fans are now spoilt for choice. Isak, Wirtz and Barcola could be back in the starting line-up for the Premier League visit of Brighton on Sunday afternoon.
