Florian Wirtz’s start at Liverpool has drawn as much scrutiny as it did fanfare. The German midfielder remains without a goal or assist in the Premier League since his £116 million move.
But to write him off now would be short-sighted: Wirtz is not failing Liverpool; rather, he is quietly delivering what matters most — creativity, intelligence and long-term potential.
Wirtz’s performances for Germany offer a timely reminder of why Liverpool invested so heavily in him. In a recent World Cup qualifier, he was rated by Sofascore as Germany’s best player, despite not being credited with a goal or assist. According to SportsMole, he created four chances and took five shots, three of which were blocked — strong evidence that he is still finding opportunities, even if the final pass or finish isn’t materialising.
Those contributions align with his profile. During his time at Bayer Leverkusen, Wirtz was a driving creative force, capable of making and receiving progressive passes at a rate that placed him among the best in the Bundesliga. He is not just a scorer; he is a playmaker, an artist in the tight spaces — doing things with the ball that don’t always translate into immediate statistical reward, but which have devastating tactical value.
Liverpool’s adjustment phase has not made Wirtz’s life easier. His manager, Arne Slot, has already spoken of his “better-than-expected” adaptation, highlighting the midfielder’s mental strength and composure under pressure. And Germany’s coach, Julian Nagelsmann, has been vocal in backing him: he stressed that Liverpool should support Wirtz, not blame him, noting that he “creates numerous chances” but is let down by teammates’ finishing.
This isn’t simply reassurance. It’s a recognition that Wirtz’s game is not suited to instant impact, but rather to sustained influence. He is contributing in ways that matter beyond the score sheet.
That said, he is finding moments to reaffirm his quality. In a recent Champions League match against Eintracht Frankfurt, Wirtz contributed two assists, setting up Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai. That performance caught the eye of German media, who suggested perhaps the “curse” of his scoreless run was over. It’s a moment that feels like a turning point — an indicator that the creativity expected isn’t just theoretical, it’s real.
Yes, critics are quick to pounce. Arsène Wenger recently argued that Wirtz being played as a No. 10 has “destroyed” Liverpool’s midfield. But such critiques misunderstand both Wirtz’s role and his strengths. Slot has rightly defended his deployment, saying his versatility — whether centrally or out wide — remains a tremendous asset.
To write Wirtz off because of a lack of assists is to ignore the deeper architecture of his game. He is a progressive midfielder, not just a final-pass merchant. He made more than 2.1 chances per 90 minutes in open play during his last full season in Germany. That level of chance creation is rare; to ask him to immediately convert and deliver in a demanding new environment is to misunderstand how creativity evolves in a new system.
Liverpool signed Wirtz not just for what he has done, but for what he will become. He is still only 22, and while the spotlight on that kind of money is unrelenting, the long-term payoff could be enormous. The club’s willingness to trust him through a challenging transition suggests confidence in his footballing DNA — and rightly so.
Moreover, his mental resilience is often overlooked. Slot praised him as “mentally strong, not distracted by a transfer fee or anything else.” For a young player who has already won a Bundesliga title and domestic cup with Leverkusen, that kind of maturity is vital. He is not fragile; he is just being patient.
Liverpool fans should be encouraged, not anxious. Wirtz is exactly the kind of high-end creative talent that can lift a team over time — not by matching older stars for raw numbers, but by weaving his influence through the game, especially in tight moments.
The data supports a more optimistic view: high shot involvement, impressive chance creation, and a clear tendency to operate between the lines. Combine that with his Champions League glimpses and Germany affinity, and you have a player who may yet become the strategic linchpin of Liverpool’s next era.
In short, Wirtz’s early Liverpool days should be regarded as phase one, not a failure. He’s not declining; he’s adjusting. He’s not underperforming; he’s laying the foundations for a creative legacy in red.
The narrative that he is floundering is premature — and, frankly, unfair. In a world obsessed with immediate returns, Wirtz is proving himself in long-form. And if Liverpool and its supporters give him the space to breathe, there is every chance he will repay that faith many times over.
Main Image: – Own work
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