Florian Wirtz's Liverpool Struggles: Why the Star Midfielder Can't Find His Form

Jamie Carragher's constant presence ensures you're always within reach of his latest viewpoint, and the former Liverpool defender has been harsh in his assessment of Arne Slot's title contenders.

The Reds experienced consecutive losses for only the second occasion under Jürgen Klopp's replacement, with their 2–1 setback at Crystal Palace being followed by a lackluster performance in a 1–0 defeat to Galatasaray on Tuesday evening.

Carragher described his former club as a "mess" in their present form, and specifically targeted £116 million ($156 million) signing Florian Wirtz for critique, arguing the German midfielder needs to be "removed from the lineup" for Liverpool to recapture the form that propelled them to success last season.

Wirtz held the club's transfer record only temporarily, with the Alexander Isak transfer saga and eventual completion dominating the news cycle. There was anticipation that Wirtz, given his evident quality, would make an immediate meaningful contribution on Merseyside, but this hasn't materialized.

As results have deteriorated, the attacking midfielder's output, or absence of it, has come under scrutiny. So, what explains Wirtz's struggles after being benched by Slot for the crucial Premier League clash against Chelsea, and how can Liverpool unlock his potential at Anfield?

Florian Wirtz's 2025–26 Statistics

*Statistics accurate as of Saturday, Oct. 4 17:30 BST.

What's Behind Florian Wirtz's Liverpool Difficulties?

Across eight Premier League and Champions League outings, Wirtz has failed to record a single goal or assist in Liverpool's colors. This return would be concerning even if the Reds had paid half their eventual fee to secure his services ahead of Bayern Munich during the summer.

One could easily cite the alleged 'Bundesliga tax' to explain Wirtz's difficulties. The notion that Germany's supposedly weaker top division can inflate offensive numbers has been supported by Timo Werner, Jadon Sancho and Christopher Nkunku's Premier League struggles, though the successful careers of Roberto Firmino, Son Heung-min and, from earlier years, Dimitar Berbatov challenge this theory.

Each situation is unique, and there are more complex factors beyond simply changing leagues that explain why Wirtz hasn't found his footing immediately.

During his peak seasons at Bayer Leverkusen, Wirtz achieved double-digit goals and assists annually. He was a creative force consistently depended upon to deliver brilliance in attacking areas. His teammates constantly looked for him, and Xabi Alonso's system ensured he frequently found himself in favorable positions to receive possession between defensive lines.

In 2023–24 and 2024–25, Wirtz received 11.7 progressive passes per 90 minutes. At Liverpool currently, he's getting nearly half that amount (6.73). Consequently, Wirtz has had fewer opportunities to establish rhythm, with limited touches placing greater emphasis and pressure on each one he receives. He's averaging 56.3 touches per 90 this campaign, over 20 fewer than the 77.8 he managed last term.

Curtis Jones is arguably Liverpool's finest through-ball specialist, but he's been used infrequently, and the Reds lack quality penetrative passers in their squad. Ryan Gravenberch excels more as a ball carrier, while Dominik Szoboszlai and Virgil van Dijk favor ambitious cross-field passes.

Slot and Wirtz have both acknowledged that additional physical adaptation is necessary, with the German indicating that his defensive work rate is affecting his ball-playing ability. When touches do come, he's often fatigued from off-ball movement required by Slot's system—a role Szoboszlai performed excellently last season.

Are There Any Encouraging Developments?

The underlying data suggests Wirtz is struggling in the final third, with the German recording expected goals of just 1.3, plus 1.4 expected assists.

He's rarely positioned himself for shooting opportunities, and hasn't been let down by teammates regarding potential assists.

His productivity deserves criticism, and Liverpool haven't yet witnessed enough from the 22-year-old to warrant his substantial transfer fee. Nevertheless, Wirtz's time hasn't been entirely negative.

There have been genuine moments and displays of potential. He formed an early partnership with summer signing Hugo Ekitiké, and provided the assist for the Frenchman's opener in the Community Shield. Additionally, there were promising combinations between him and Alexander Isak during the first half of Liverpool's 3–2 victory over Atlético Madrid on Matchday 1 of the group stage.

Wirtz is undoubtedly a nuanced playmaker. His excellence doesn't always manifest through spectacular moments. His movement and ability to operate with minimal touches made him valuable at Leverkusen, but such subtlety often goes unappreciated by contemporary fans who demand statistics for social media debates.

There have been flashes of Wirtz's capabilities, and he doesn't appear physically overwhelmed despite his relatively lean build. He competed well against Arsenal, one of the league's most physical teams, on Matchday 3, and produced some of his finest work when positioned in the left half-space during the second half.

How Can Liverpool Maximize Florian Wirtz's Potential?

Wirtz is also affected by Liverpool's imperfect balance, to which he has contributed. Slot hasn't yet identified his optimal lineup.

Perhaps temporarily removing him from the starting eleven and reinstating Szoboszlai in the No. 10 position would benefit Wirtz short-term, but he won't remain a substitute indefinitely. Slot must devise a solution for his German playmaker.

He requires creative passers behind him, making Jones's inclusion beneficial. Furthermore, Liverpool may have been overly fluid in possession. Returning to a more structured approach could help Wirtz. As demonstrated against Arsenal, Wirtz can be dangerous from the left half-space, and ensuring he can occupy this area consistently should be the manager's focus, rather than having him roam everywhere seeking possession.

Reduced running means he's more energetic when receiving the ball, and having a superior passer like Jones should create more chances for Wirtz to find his rhythm. Once that initial confidence develops, attacking contributions will naturally follow.