Florian Wirtz shines creatively as Liverpool’s tactical questions remain
Florian Wirtz did not need a goal to become the main talking point as Liverpool returned to winning ways in the Premier League. The German playmaker produced an exceptional display of chance creation against Brentford, offering a vivid reminder of the attacking quality behind his record-breaking transfer fee. Yet the performance also revived a difficult question for manager Andoni Iraola: how can Liverpool make the most of Wirtz’s creativity without leaving the team exposed elsewhere?
The win provided a timely lift after Liverpool’s defeat to Manchester City and moved them into fifth place. It also captured the two sides of Wirtz’s influence. His vision and passing can unlock a defence, but his role in the team’s shape continues to prompt debate over midfield coverage, defensive transitions and the balance between attacking ambition and control.
Wirtz responds to criticism with a record-setting performance
Wirtz arrived at Brentford under scrutiny after a challenging start to life at Liverpool. The 23-year-old joined from Bayer Leverkusen in June 2025 for a reported £116 million, making him the most expensive signing in the club’s history. With a fee of that scale comes intense expectation, and his early league output had not yet matched the excitement surrounding his arrival.
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard had suggested that a spell out of the starting line-up might help Wirtz rebuild his confidence. The comments reflected the pressure surrounding the playmaker, but his display against Brentford offered a strong response. He repeatedly connected Liverpool’s midfield with its forwards and helped the visitors turn possession into dangerous attacks.
Wirtz created nine chances from open play, the highest total recorded by any player in a Premier League match over the past six seasons. Sadio Mané was the last to reach the same figure, creating nine chances for Liverpool against Burnley in January 2021. Wirtz also became the first away player in more than 15 years to register nine chances in a league match, since Samir Nasri created ten for Manchester City against Tottenham in August 2011.
The numbers were especially striking in the second half, when Brentford were reduced to ten men. Liverpool made the most of the extra space, finishing with 21 shots and 14 efforts on target. Wirtz was central to much of that attacking pressure, helping Liverpool move the ball quickly and find openings around the home side’s defensive block.
Danny Murphy warns that Liverpool’s shape could be vulnerable
Wirtz’s creative performance did not settle the discussion about Liverpool’s tactical structure. Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy, speaking to BBC Sport, praised the result but warned that the team looked too easy to play against at times. His concern was not simply about one player’s defensive work; it was about the distances between Liverpool’s lines and the burden placed on the central midfielders.
With two wingers and Wirtz operating as a number ten behind the striker, Liverpool can commit plenty of players to attack. But that arrangement may leave the midfield exposed when possession is lost. Murphy argued that the central players have to cover large areas, creating gaps that opponents can target during transitions.
Brentford were able to carry the ball forward and find space behind Liverpool’s defensive line, Murphy noted. That warning matters beyond this particular match: a side with greater pace or technical quality may be better equipped to punish those openings. The tactical challenge for Iraola is therefore to preserve Wirtz’s freedom while ensuring the team remains compact enough to defend counter-attacks.
It would be too simplistic to blame Wirtz alone for any imbalance. A playmaker’s positioning affects the whole team, but the solution depends on how the midfield, full-backs and forwards coordinate their movement. Liverpool’s structure must give Wirtz the ball in dangerous areas while maintaining enough protection behind him.
Strong chance creation, but room to improve other parts of his game
Wirtz is already among the Premier League’s leading chance creators this season. He has produced 18 chances, level with Brighton’s Pascal Gross, and his assist against Brentford marked his second consecutive appearance with an assist across all competitions. He also played a part in starting Liverpool’s comeback, reinforcing his value as a creator even when he is not the one finishing attacks.
His influence was visible in the final third. Wirtz recorded 12 entries into that area and completed 37 passes there, figures that underline how often Liverpool looked to him to advance their attacks. However, his direct league output stood at two goal contributions in seven matches before this game, leaving a gap between his creative influence and his goals-and-assists return.
There were less encouraging details, too. Wirtz lost possession 19 times, the second-highest total among Liverpool players in the match, while winning only one of the nine duels he contested. Those figures do not erase his creative contribution, but they highlight areas that become important when opponents press aggressively or make the game physical.
A complete assessment of a playmaker cannot rest on chances created alone. Retaining possession under pressure, helping the team escape a press and contributing to the recovery of the ball all influence whether a creative player strengthens the team’s overall performance.
Could a three-man midfield offer a better solution?
Murphy’s proposed remedy is to use three central midfielders rather than rely on a fixed number ten in every match. A more secure midfield base could help Liverpool close the spaces Brentford found and reduce the amount of ground individual midfielders must cover. It might also allow Wirtz to drift into pockets of space rather than remain tied to a traditional playmaker position.
That adjustment would involve a trade-off. Removing an additional attacker could reduce Liverpool’s presence in the final third, particularly against opponents who defend deep and leave little room to exploit. Iraola must decide whether the greater defensive security is worth the potential loss of attacking numbers—or whether a more flexible system can deliver both.
The best answer may depend on the opponent and the match situation. Against teams that counter quickly, an extra midfielder could help Liverpool control transitions. When chasing a goal or facing a compact defence, Wirtz’s freedom and the presence of extra forwards may be more valuable. The key is not simply choosing between attack and defence, but finding a structure that can shift between the two without losing cohesion.
Important away win brings confidence—and fresh concerns
The Brentford victory carried significance beyond the three points. Liverpool climbed to fifth in the table, with three wins from their opening seven league matches under Iraola, who took charge after Arne Slot’s departure in the summer. The result also ended a difficult away run: Liverpool had gone 19 league away matches without winning after conceding first, a sequence stretching back to December 2023.
Still, the comeback should be viewed in context. Liverpool’s numerical advantage helped them take control after Brentford went down to ten men, while the home side’s late goal made the closing stages tense. Iraola said Liverpool created plenty of chances but did not always make the most of their counter-attacks, including a late situation in which three attackers faced one defender.
The manager also pointed to the danger of set pieces and throw-ins after Brentford cut the score to 2-1. His comments reflected a familiar lesson in football: dominance and a lead do not guarantee a comfortable finish if a team cannot manage pressure and protect its defensive shape.
Injuries and fixture pressure add to Iraola’s challenge
Liverpool’s preparations for their next match were complicated by injuries to Dominik Szoboszlai and Jeremie Frimpong, while striker Alexander Isak returned to action after recovering from his own injury. With the squad facing a demanding schedule, Iraola must manage player workloads as carefully as he manages his tactics.
He said Liverpool had played four matches in ten days and stressed the physical demands of visiting Brentford. The team must now recover before its Champions League meeting with Villarreal, scheduled for Tuesday. That fixture congestion could make midfield depth and rotation particularly important, especially if the injuries limit Iraola’s options.
For Liverpool, the Brentford result was a confidence-building win and a compelling demonstration of Wirtz’s creative ceiling. The next step is turning those flashes into consistent team strength. Whether Iraola adjusts the midfield, changes Wirtz’s positioning or varies the approach from match to match, the tactical solution will shape Liverpool’s prospects in both the Premier League and Europe.
Prediction: Wirtz is likely to remain a central figure in Liverpool’s attacking plans, but his influence will be judged not only by chances created. If Liverpool improve their midfield protection and become more secure when possession turns over, the German’s creativity could become a decisive advantage rather than a source of tactical debate.
