Liverpool playmaker Florian Wirtz has shown encouraging signs of form following heavy criticism, producing key performances during the club’s recent run of fixtures. The 23-year-old German international will now test his progress across three crucial upcoming home matches at Anfield against Brighton & Hove Albion, Chelsea, and Arsenal.
Pundit Criticism and Recent Resurgence
Wirtz faced intense scrutiny following Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City at Anfield. Former Liverpool captain Jamie Carragher, speaking as a pundit on Sky Sports, called for the £116m midfielder to be dropped from the starting lineup in favor of Ryan Gravenberch, arguing that Wirtz had failed to meet expectations in his 55 to 60 appearances for the club.
Carragher stated that Wirtz had not done enough to justify his position, saying, “I’m just sorry to say this Florian Wirtz signing it’s not working and it hasn’t worked so far and Gravenberch should not be sitting on the bench when Wirtz is playing for Liverpool.” He added that Wirtz was expected to be a dominant presence similar to Kevin De Bruyne but had struggled to consistently win games for the team.
Despite the criticism, Wirtz responded with improved performances in Liverpool’s subsequent fixtures. In a 6-3 UEFA Champions League victory against LASK in Austria, he set up Bradley Barcola’s goal with a precise pass in tight space. He followed that performance by creating nine open-play chances in a comeback win over Brentford, assisting Victor Munoz for the equalizing goal after Brentford’s Yehor Yarmolyuk received a red card in first-half stoppage time. Wirtz then scored his first goal since April during a 4-3 home victory over Villarreal, giving him goal involvements in three consecutive matches as Liverpool earned five wins from their last six games in all competitions.
Tactical Challenges and Midfield Balance
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola expressed satisfaction with Wirtz’s recent displays, highlighting his contributions both in and out of possession as well as his growing partnership with Barcola on the left side of the attack. Iraola noted that while Wirtz’s performances are heavily scrutinized, his recent contributions deserved credit.
Underlying statistics, however, present a nuanced picture of Liverpool’s attacking output. According to data from Opta reported by Sky Sports, none of the nine chances Wirtz created against Brentford or the league-high 20 openings he has generated this season were classified as high-quality “big chances.” Liverpool currently rank 16th in the Premier League for expected goals (xG).
Tactical questions also remain regarding Liverpool’s midfield structure. Sky Sports News reporter Vinny O’Connor explained on the Sky Sports Premier League podcast that finding balance remains a central challenge for Iraola. O’Connor pointed out that Liverpool lack a traditional defensive holding midfielder, as Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, and Dominik Szoboszlai naturally tend to push forward, occasionally leaving the team vulnerable to counterattacks when Wirtz plays in an advanced role.
Liverpool will now prepare to navigate their upcoming stretch at Anfield, where they have recorded 11 wins in their past 21 home matches, beginning with their league fixture against Brighton.
Source: SkySports | News
