Florian Wirtz struggles at Liverpool: £116m doubts explained

Florian Wirtz, a £116m signing at Liverpool, has drawn scrutiny for not yet matching his Leverkusen impact in England. The debate crystallised over the last week: he was everywhere in the Champions League rout of LASK, then faded in the Premier League when Liverpool needed him most.

In Europe, the article highlights how Wirtz exploited gaps between and behind the Austrian side’s defence and helped stitch together a dominant display. But in the prior game against Manchester City, when Andoni Iraola’s plan relied on bigger contributions due to the absence of Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai, Wirtz was described as ineffective, wasteful and withdrawn as Liverpool chased a 0-1 scoreline. Rayan Cherki—considered by Liverpool as a cheaper alternative before being passed on—then capped City’s win with a standout goal.

Champions League vs Premier League

The piece argues the Premier League’s physicality and intensity are the biggest obstacles for Wirtz: he can be swamped and knocked aside, exposing Liverpool’s central midfield. Iraola rejected the idea that Wirtz is struggling simply because the games are in England, saying, “It’s not about whether they are foreign teams or English teams… Some games are more comfortable, with more time to think, sometimes less. It’s not about the competition.”

Numbers and role

Last season’s comparison is also pointed to: Wirtz delivered three assists in 11 Champions League matches, the same total as in 33 Premier League appearances. This term, his passing accuracy is said to be 80% in the league (from a small sample) and 91.5% in the Champions League.

The article adds that the original idea was to build Liverpool’s attack around Wirtz as the creative centre under Slot and then Iraola, with a focus on building a close rapport with Isak. It notes that Slot was sacked without settling on a role that best fit him, and that a more defensive midfielder could give Wirtz more licence to roam while adding protection to Liverpool’s back line.