Wake up, kid! Wirtz needs to show signs of life

Florian Wirtz’s struggles show no sign of ending. It’s painful to watch a player for whom Liverpool paid 125 million euros give no indication that he’s rediscovering the form that made him such a sensation at Bayer Leverkusen.

Four months have passed, and there’s been little to show — 14 appearances, no goals, and just three assists across all competitions. Since arriving at Anfield, it’s as if he’s stepped into the Twilight Zone and can’t find his way out. The lethargy in his game continued against Aston Villa. Starting from the bench, he came on only in the 77th minute — yet even in that short time, he managed to leave a negative impression.

Everybody is trying to support Wirtz in his darkest hour

Two moments stood out for all the wrong reasons. First, he inexplicably sent the ball out of play with no opponent nearby and a teammate just a few meters away. Then, pressing Aston Villa’s defense, he was physically brushed aside by one of Unai Emery’s center-backs with embarrassing ease.

That episode alone shows how unprepared Wirtz still is for the physical demands of the Premier League — something expected to a degree, but what wasn’t expected is just how poor his performances have been. Liverpool’s second-most expensive signing ever has been substituted at halftime against Chelsea and played only the final half-hour versus Manchester United — a worrying trend.

Once again, Wirtz drew attention for the wrong reasons, and to make matters worse, he’s testing the patience of manager Arne Slot. The attacking midfielder has started on the bench in four of Liverpool’s last six league games — a situation far from the plan envisioned for him.

One of the main reasons Wirtz chose Anfield over Bayern’s Allianz Arena was a conversation with Slot, who convinced him that the team would be built around him and that he’d enjoy great creative freedom on the pitch.

The weaknesses that weren’t exposed in the Bundesliga — especially physical ones — are glaringly obvious in England. Reviewing all his appearances, the only match where he truly impressed was the Champions League game against Eintracht Frankfurt, when he started on the right wing in Mohamed Salah’s place and recorded two assists in a 5–1 win. But even after that, he quickly reverted to anonymity.

Former Liverpool and Germany midfielder Dietmar Hamann recently criticized the playmaker: “The next few games will be crucial, not just for Slot but for Wirtz too. If he continues to be this invisible on the pitch, Liverpool will have to make changes — it can’t go on like this. Don’t be surprised if discussions start about whether Wirtz should be sold,” Hamann said.

It sounds almost unbelievable that a 125 million euros player could already be at risk of being sold — but that says a lot. At Leverkusen, Wirtz had full creative freedom; at Liverpool, he’s being mocked by the English press, who’ve dubbed him “Agent 007.” Patience is wearing thin, and criticism from former players is mounting.

“He’s got so much talent, but honestly, I just don’t see where he fits,” said Wayne Rooney. “He cost a fortune, and I think Wirtz actually disrupts Liverpool’s balance and the way they play.”

Right now, Wirtz seems stuck in a state of hibernation. His body language is poor, at times reminiscent of Joao Felix — another undeniably talented player who shone for a season or two before fading. It’s too early to declare Wirtz a lost cause; he’s German, after all — disciplined, determined, and mentally strong. That mentality could yet see him bounce back and show a very different version of himself next season.