Florian Wirtz Under Pressure as Liverpool Debate Grows After Manchester City Defeat
Florian Wirtz arrived at Liverpool with the profile and price tag of a potential Premier League star. Signed for a reported £116 million, the Germany international was expected to add creativity, goals and decisive quality to the club’s attack. Instead, a difficult start to the season has prompted growing questions about his form—and whether he should remain in the starting XI.
The debate intensified after Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City, a result that exposed problems across the team and left Wirtz struggling to make a meaningful impact. Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher was among the most outspoken critics, arguing on Sky Sports that the playmaker is not currently offering enough to justify his place.
For supporters weighing up Liverpool’s next steps, the question is no longer simply how much potential Wirtz has. It is whether the team can afford to keep building around a player who has yet to deliver consistently in the Premier League. Any prediction about his future role will depend on how quickly he can turn promising moments into tangible contributions.
Carragher Calls for Wirtz to Be Dropped
Speaking after the loss to City, Carragher said Wirtz should not be in Liverpool’s side at present. He questioned the midfielder’s attacking threat and suggested that he did not look likely to score. The criticism was particularly pointed because Wirtz was signed to influence matches, not merely occupy a position in the team.
Carragher also challenged the assumption that the German would automatically start every week as Liverpool’s No. 10. He said he struggled to recall a game in which Wirtz had been named man of the match or played a decisive role in a Liverpool victory. In Carragher’s view, the club expected a star capable of shaping big occasions, much as Kevin De Bruyne has done for Manchester City.
His comments reflect a wider frustration among sections of the fanbase. Liverpool supporters have seen Wirtz’s technical ability, but many are waiting for the end product—goals, assists and performances that change the course of a match. When a major signing is introduced as a central figure in a team’s plans, scrutiny tends to arrive quickly if those outcomes do not follow.
The Numbers Behind a Difficult Premier League Start
Wirtz has yet to score in the Premier League this season and has recorded one assist in six league appearances. Across 56 matches for Liverpool in all competitions since arriving, he has scored seven goals and supplied 11 assists. Those figures offer some evidence of contribution, but they have not yet matched the expectations attached to his transfer fee or his reputation as one of Germany’s leading young attacking players.
His display against Manchester City also drew attention through a statistical comparison with City midfielder Elliot Anderson. According to figures cited by The Telegraph, Wirtz had 46 touches and completed 20 passes, while Anderson recorded 100 touches and 71 completed passes. Wirtz won four duels; Anderson won 11.
Numbers alone cannot capture every part of a football performance. A player’s movement, pressing, positioning and role within a tactical system all matter. Still, the contrast underlined how little influence Wirtz had on the contest compared with an opponent operating in midfield. The BBC rated him 4/10, describing his performance as ineffective and criticising his decision-making.
Why Expectations Are So High
Wirtz’s arrival carried more than the usual pressure associated with a big-money transfer. Liverpool recruited him to become a creative focal point: a player who could link midfield and attack, find space between the lines and provide the final pass or finish. His reputation in Germany suggested he had the vision and technique to fulfil that role.
But adapting to English football can take time, even for an established international. The Premier League’s pace, physical demands and tight schedules leave little room for a newcomer to settle gradually. Opponents also study high-profile players closely, often denying them space and forcing them into difficult decisions. If Liverpool’s attacking structure is not creating clear openings, Wirtz may find it harder to show his best qualities.
That context does not erase the need for improvement. A player in a central attacking role is judged on whether he can help Liverpool progress the ball, create chances and threaten goal. Wirtz will need to show greater consistency in those areas if he is to quieten criticism and strengthen his claim to a regular starting place.
Injuries Add to Liverpool’s Selection Challenge
Liverpool’s attacking options have been affected by the absence of Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo, according to the report. Those absences make the situation more complicated for the coaching staff. With fewer forward options available, Wirtz’s creativity could be especially valuable—but the team also needs dependable production from its most prominent attacking players.
That tension creates a difficult decision. Keeping Wirtz in the XI could give him continuity and the opportunity to regain confidence. Dropping him, however, might allow Liverpool to change the balance of the attack, introduce a different profile or reduce the pressure on a player whose performances have become a major talking point.
The coaching staff must also consider how Liverpool’s midfield supports him. A No. 10 can appear isolated if the team struggles to move the ball forward or if the forwards are unavailable to make runs. Better movement around Wirtz could improve his influence, while a tactical adjustment might help him receive possession in more dangerous areas.
What Happens Next for Wirtz?
The coming matches will be important in shaping the story around Wirtz. One strong performance would not resolve every concern, but it could provide a timely reminder of why Liverpool invested so heavily in him. Conversely, another quiet outing would likely intensify calls for a change to the starting line-up.
A fair prediction is that Liverpool will continue to give Wirtz opportunities, particularly while injuries limit the available attacking options. Yet his place should not be treated as guaranteed. He will need to demonstrate more urgency, sharper decision-making and a greater threat in the final third if he is to become the match-winning star supporters expected.
For now, Wirtz remains a player with considerable ability but an urgent need to convert promise into performance. Liverpool’s season is still developing, and a difficult spell does not define a career. But at a club with high ambitions—and after a transfer of this scale—the pressure is real. The next chapter will depend on whether Wirtz can answer his critics on the pitch.
