While many Liverpool players didn’t do themselves justice in the defeat to Manchester United on Sunday, one in particular has come in for plenty of criticism following the match at Old Trafford.
It wasn’t a happy 23rd birthday for Florian Wirtz, who was deployed in an unfamiliar centre-forward role due to the absences of Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike but was unable to pose much of a goal threat against Michael Carrick’s side.
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Having scored magnificently against Crystal Palace the previous week, the German playmaker never truly threatened Red Devils goalkeeper Senne Lammens yesterday, and his performance was subjected to widespread scrutiny after the game.
Journalists and pundits critical of Wirtz v Man United
Ian Doyle handed Wirtz 6/10 in his post-match player ratings for the Liverpool Echo, writing that the Reds’ number 7 ‘went missing’ for much of the first half before improving thereafter and ‘could have done more’ on the day.
Jamie Carragher said on Sky Sports after the game: “The one player I think has had a very easy ride is Florian Wirtz. I’ve never moved clubs let alone moved to a different country, but I think we’ve given him time. We’ve been very, very kind. He was poor today.”
Lewis Steele also called out the 23-year-old in an article for the Daily Mail on Monday, opining: ‘Florian Wirtz, the £116m signing, simply does not do enough for a player of that price tag. The German is a young lad settling into a new culture who is clearly feeling the pressure, but we must see more of a return on that investment next year.
‘He has not registered a goal or assist in the league against a team higher than 10th in the current table. A supposed game-changer signing does not change games, whereas another target and fellow summer arrival, Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki, is setting the world alight.’
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Wirtz is a fantastic talent, but Liverpool need more from him
Wirtz was tasked with taking up an unfamiliar position at Old Trafford with Liverpool’s attack so severely depleted, and his statistics from the match on Sunday (via Sofascore) weren’t all bad, with the German trying valiantly to influence proceedings in the final third.
As Steele pointed out, though, it isn’t unreasonable to expect more from a player of the 23-year-old’s ability and transfer fee, and his poor record in duels will inevitably lead to further accusations as to whether he has the physicality to thrive in the Premier League.
| Passes completed | 40/50 (80%) |
| Key passes | 3 |
| Dribbles completed | 1/3 |
| Shots on target | 0 |
| Duels won | 3/9 |
Former Reds defender Markus Babbel emphatically declared in recent days that we’ll see a ‘top-class Florian Wirtz’ next season, and we firmly believe that our number 7 has the innate talent to come good on that promise.
However, his impact at Liverpool so far has been less than what we expected when he signed from Bayer Leverkusen last summer, with just seven goals and 10 assists in 47 appearances, and yesterday was another game in which he didn’t exert a standout influence.
We need to see more from the Germany international over the next few months, but we don’t doubt that there’s a phenomenal footballer in there who’ll take this league by storm yet.
Hate to say I told you so .
Before Liverpool signed wirtz, kirkez, frimpong I said on here about the concerns.
At set pieces, the lack of physicality, especially if you don’t play three midfielders.
Wirtz has upset the balance in midfield, slot wanted a 4-2-3-1 . Wirtz is as carragher said neat and tidy.
But he lacks pace, he’s small, very lightweight and he doesn’t do enough to influence the game where it matters. You cant play him out wide he’s not strong enough, just like frimpong. Wirtz has now become an expensive problem. I don’t see any position where wirtz plays and we look a better team.
Mistakes happen, we need to cut our losses, and sell and move on . Use the money to improve the midfield. A defensive midfielder in the mould of fabinho
A box to box workhorse in the mould of wjinaldum.
Persisting with bad signings not the Answer.
Another scapegoat. Was glad Salah didn’t play else he would be part of the firing squad. Alonso is the person who can bring out the best in wirtz. Period.
Personally I think the team as a whole dont put the effort in, they never have the fight to go on and go for the win ,after levelling up against man u on Sunday expected them to go for the 3 points instead of going into tippy tappy mode ,we need at least 5 new players of class.