Florian Wirtz: Liverpool's £116m man under the microscope
Florian Wirtz's underwhelming start to life at Liverpool continues to dominate headlines, with pundits, legends and outlets all weighing in on what's gone wrong and whether things are turning a corner.
Steven Gerrard, as reported by ESPN, believes dropping Wirtz could actually help him, suggesting the German's confidence and form "coming out of the team" might be the solution after a tough opening spell (ESPN). That sits in contrast to the more optimistic tone from the Liverpool Echo, whose tactical analysis of the 6-3 Champions League win points to encouraging signs from Wirtz and Bradley Barcola, even wondering if the pair could form Liverpool's future midfield partnership (Liverpool Echo).
Elsewhere, the critical voices continue to grow. Liverpool.com notes that Peter Crouch has echoed Jamie Carragher's "blunt" verdict on Wirtz, suggesting the pundits are broadly aligned in their concerns over his performances so far (Liverpool.com). A separate Liverpool.com piece goes further, reporting that Wirtz has become the subject of a "fiery" debate among fans and pundits over whether he represents the "biggest waste of money" at the club this season (Liverpool.com).
The Guardian takes a more balanced, investigative approach, with two writers examining the "Wirtz mystery" and asking why he hasn't replicated his Leverkusen form in England. They note that some criticism has been over the top, though the £116m fee inevitably raises expectations, while still acknowledging the Reds have yet to see the best of him (The Guardian).
On the practical side, Liverpool.com reports that manager-related selection dilemmas are emerging, with Andoni Iraola (sic) facing a decision over whether to involve Wirtz as Liverpool make possible changes for the trip to Brentford, following his and Barcola's encouraging Champions League displays (Liverpool.com). The Liverpool Echo's line-up preview for that same Brentford match confirms decisions have been made regarding Wirtz and Rio Ngumoha's involvement in the starting XI (Liverpool Echo). Meanwhile, LiverpoolFC.com takes a lighter angle, focusing on Wirtz's Fantasy Premier League appeal and how Liverpool's best route to points might run through him (LiverpoolFC.com).
Taken together, the coverage shows a split in opinion: some believe a rest or reset could be best for Wirtz, others see genuine signs of improvement in his link-up play, and the debate over his price tag and output shows no sign of dying down.
Written with the help of AI, using the headlines from the publishers credited above. Each point links to the original report — tap the source name to read it in full.