Wirtz Under Fire: How a Record Signing Shook Liverpool’s Midfield
Florian Wirtz arrived at Liverpool in the summer with massive expectations. The Reds beat Bayern Munich to his signature, paying a club-record £116 million for a player who lit up the Bundesliga at Bayer Leverkusen. Below you will see inormation about is news which has been summarized The Football Breakdown.
With 57 goals and 65 assists in Germany, fans expected instant magic. But that spark hasn’t shown up at Anfield yet. Wirtz has played 14 games this season, recording three assists and no goals, one of those assists coming in the Community Shield.
Liverpool’s form also dropped dramatically, losing six of seven matches during his slow start. The pressure is now growing. Liverpool paid for a superstar and the team needs a superstar performance back, especially in such a demanding league.
Wenger Points the Finger at Liverpool’s Tactical Gamble
Arsène Wenger believes the real mistake wasn’t the transfer but the role Wirtz demanded. Speaking on beIN SPORTS, the Arsenal legend revealed that Wirtz told Liverpool he would only join if he played as a central No. 10 instead of out wide.
To secure their top target, Liverpool agreed. That meant a complete change to the midfield that dominated last season. Dominik Szoboszlai lost his place, while Gravenberch and Mac Allister struggled to adjust. Wenger claims this decision “destroyed” the balance that made Liverpool strong.
After a poor stretch, manager Arne Slot finally restored last season’s midfield trio and instantly got two big wins over Aston Villa and Real Madrid. It proved that the old setup works, and the experiment with Wirtz at the center may have been a costly mistake.
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Time for Wirtz to Adapt or Fall Behind
Against Madrid, Wirtz was moved to the left-wing a position he has played before at Leverkusen. It may not be his favorite role, but it could help him rediscover confidence. The challenge? Cody Gakpo is already thriving in that spot.
To earn his place, Wirtz may need to be flexible and work his way into the lineup rather than demanding a role. At just 22, he still has time but Liverpool need results now. Xabi Alonso, who coached Wirtz in Germany, urged patience, calling him “a really special player” who only needs time to settle into English football.
A Crucial Test Awaits
Liverpool’s next match is a huge one a trip to Manchester City and Erling Haaland, who already has 17 goals this season. Performance in big games can change a story fast and Wirtz has a chance to flip the script. For now, the message is clear: play where the team needs you, or risk becoming an expensive problem instead of a Premier League hero. Follow footballtipsonline.co.uk for weekly deep dives into football’s biggest stories.
