Florian Wirtz’s time at Liverpool remains a subject of intense scrutiny, with many questioning whether the £116m playmaker has lived up to the significant investment made in his talent. While some observers argue that the criticism leveled at the German international is excessive, there is a clear consensus that his output has failed to match the high standards he set while playing in Germany or representing his national team. A recent week of action highlighted this inconsistency: while Wirtz thrived against Lask in the Champions League, finding spaces and orchestrating play, he struggled significantly during the match against Manchester City. In that pivotal encounter, with key teammates like Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo, and Dominik Szoboszlai sidelined, Wirtz appeared ineffective and withdrawn during the 0-1 loss. Exploiting gaps between and behind the Austrian club’s defence and knitting together a dominant display against limited opposition, in the Champions League rout of Lask he was everywhere. A cheaper alternative whom Liverpool considered and passed on, completed City’s victory with a sublime goal, it also did not help his cause that Rayan Cherki. The shift towards acquiring expensive “finished products” has left many pining for the hunger and spirit of emerging talent that characterised the club’s re-emergence under Jürgen Klopp. And Slot was sacked without finding a position that best suited Wirtz, it never happened. As his relationship with Bradley Barcola and Isak improves, so will his end product, wirtz can justifiably argue that forces beyond his control have conspired against him at Liverpool and that. Plus he was expected to pull the strings in a side that still had Mohamed Salah, the deck has been largely stacked against him since he arrived: there were too many changes to a champion team in the summer he arrived.
A recurring theme in the discussions surrounding Wirtz is his ability to handle the demands of the Premier League. Some analysts point to the heightened physicality and rapid intensity of English football as a barrier to his success, noting that he can occasionally be pushed off the ball, leaving the midfield vulnerable. Coach Andoni Iraola has publicly dismissed the idea that Wirtz is struggling specifically because of the competition’s nature. Iraola remarked that it is not about foreign versus English teams, but rather about the varying types of games, noting that some environments offer more time to think than others. Nevertheless, statistical evidence suggests a discrepancy; his passing accuracy in the Champions League sits at 91.5%, compared to 80% in the Premier League. Furthermore, he registered just three assists in 33 Premier League matches, matching his tally from 11 Champions League appearances last season. Knocked aside, leaving Liverpool’s central midfield exposed, he can be swamped. But, as Brentford are likely to demonstrate on Saturday, there is less time to think and little opportunity to get comfortable in the Premier League. I don’t think we can say that isn’t a factor – but this is something Wirtz himself predicted. He knew it was a risk but was determined to challenge himself. Wirtz has the ability to succeed at Anfield but unless the conditions around him change I think it will be very hard to do so (I can imagine him being great for Bayern in a couple of years, post-Michael Olise).
The discourse also touches on the player’s personality and his fit within the squad. Like many of Liverpool’s signings since their 2025 title success, Wirtz is sometimes compared to the more hunger-driven prospects of the previous era. However, teammates and coaches view him as a dedicated, conscientious professional. At only 23, he is described as a good listener who prioritizes team instructions over personal glory. While he may lack a dominant, demonstrative on-pitch presence, his willingness to demand the ball and take responsibility suggests he possesses the internal drive needed to succeed, provided he finds consistency. He is also, it seems easy to forget, only 23.
Tactically, the transition has been far from straightforward. Wirtz was brought in under the vision of a system designed to dominate, but after that project failed, he had to adapt to new management under Iraola. While there were initial glimpses of success during a developing partnership with Isak, those promising signs were interrupted by injuries. It is widely suggested that Wirtz could benefit from the addition of a specialized defensive midfielder, such as Monaco’s Lamine Camara, to provide him with more protection and greater freedom to roam in attacking areas. And in general, for him to thrive at the club, what needs to happen tactically. Iraola immediately confirmed Wirtz would be his No 10 and got to work on him building a close rapport with Isak. Whose proposed move to Chelsea collapsed on deadline day, is of interest, monaco’s Lamine Camara.
To understand the frustration surrounding his current form, one must look at his unparalleled impact at Bayer Leverkusen. During his final two seasons in the Bundesliga, Wirtz was widely considered the league’s premier talent. His influence went far beyond simple goals and assists; he acted as the conductor of the team, dominating high-profile matches and managing the flow of play with ease. His performance in the 2024-25 Champions League campaign, prior to his injury, was excellent, further proving his capacity for top-level output. Critics who claim he lacks the physicality for the Premier League often point to his Leverkusen tenure, where opponents frequently tried and failed to neutralize him through aggression. He racked up goals and assists in European competition too (he was excellent in the Champions League in 2024-25 before injury halted him in the knockouts) but you can’t just describe it in terms of numbers.
His success under Xabi Alonso was partly due to the tactical liberty he was afforded. Alonso recognized that ‘Flo is different,’ granting him the license to probe defenses as he saw fit while rotating him strategically to maintain his fitness. This approach was perfectly exemplified by his hat-trick against Werder Bremen in 2024, which clinched the title after he appeared as a substitute. The disparity between the tactical setup at Leverkusen and his current role at Liverpool remains a key factor. The Bundesliga’s high-tempo but often chaotic nature allowed him to operate with a level of cold-blooded efficiency that the more structured, fast-paced Premier League has yet to accommodate. According to as Alonso, In November 2023 (during Leverkusen’s unbeaten double-winning season ) every player had responsibility to patrol an allotted zone “but Flo is different” – he was given licence to prod opposing defences as he saw fit. Is he being used in a notably different way.
Ultimately, Wirtz acknowledged that moving to Liverpool would be a significant step up, with members of his own camp previously suggesting that a move to Bayern Munich might have been a more straightforward transition. Having previously overcome a major anterior cruciate ligament injury in 2022, he has already proven he possesses the resilience to navigate difficult setbacks. As he continues to integrate, recent international appearances for Germany have shown he still retains his creative flair when given less defensive responsibility, providing a hopeful blueprint for how he might yet excel at Anfield. Many in his entourage thought he would be better served by joining Bayern Munich instead of Liverpool and he acknowledged he was taking the tougher option.
