Liverpool continued to show a sense of vulnerability in their 2-0 Premier League win over West Ham on Sunday afternoon. Both sides seemed to sleepwalk through the first half at the London Stadium, but that didn’t stop Florian Wirtz from trying to cut through the outside noise and provide a much-needed spark as goals from Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo earnt Arne Slot his first win four.
The German international, winner of the last two Bundesliga Player of the Year awards, has faced heavy criticism for struggling to adapt to the pace and physical demands of English football since his £116 million move from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer.
Without an assist in 12 league matches, he quickly found himself on lists detailing the worst transfers in the Premier League so far.But Wirtz hasn’t been the only new Liverpool signing to struggle under Slot this term, with the likes of Milos Kerkez and British transfer fee record signing Isak also feeling the heat.
The difference with the 22-year-old, however, is that he’s shown glimpses of his true potential, and the general consensus from his display this weekend is that those criticising him online are placing too much weight on his lack of output, when his performances suggest there’s a smooth operator at the Red’s disposal ready to show his true colours.
How Florian Wirtz Performed During Liverpool’s Trip to West HamFlorian Wirtz during Liverpool vs West HamDuring his half-time analysis for Sky Sports, Jamie Carragher noted that Wirtz had just played his finest 45 minutes in a Liverpool shirt.
He completed 28 of his 29 pass attempts during that period, reinforcing the pundit’s assessment. But his promising performance didn’t stop there – it carried well into the second half.
Indeed, providing the killer pass that allowed Cody Gakpo to set up Isak for his first Premier League goal of the season was Wirtz’s coruscating moment – but it was just one of many positives in a performance that saw him complete 95 per cent of his passes, make one key pass, create four big chances, and register a shot on target. Watch his full highlights below:
Having previously demonstrated his tireless work rate in the engine room – covering more ground than any other player during Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Real Madrid earlier in November – Wirtz once again also showcased his defensive qualities.
Shifted into Mohamed Salah’s position on the flank for the weekend, the midfielder made three ball recoveries, won three of his five ground duels, and made one clearance, quashing the idea that the new order under Arne Slot doesn’t care about the wider cause.Liverpool Supporters Are All Making the Same Pointflo wirtz liverpoolWith his performance in mind, Liverpool supporters made it very clear that it’s not Wirtz who is the problem in his pursuit of better creative output, but rather those around him.
There’s only so much the German can do – weaving between defenders and playing neat balls in tight spaces in possession, and then doing the hard graft of tracking back out of possession – before it falls to the goalscorers to do their part. Reacting to his display, one X user remarked:”Surrounded by some hapless players, [Florian] Wirtz has been brilliant so far. Such an intelligent footballer.
“Isak’s instinctive finish proved he can deliver under Slot, but it will need to happen more regularly if the Reds are to have any hope of getting back into the fight for Champions League qualification, and his strike doesn’t take away from the fact Wirtz has been suffering from the profligacy of those around him.Liverpool’s Alexander IsakAnother supporter continued: “Florian Wirtz, with players in-form around him, would be a completely different player. He’s been brilliant here, and everyone round him is playing like it’s a charity match,” while a third wrote:
“You can see exactly why Wirtz has zero assists in the league this season, when this is what he’s having to deal with up top.”With a fourth adding: “That’s the closest we’ve got to seeing the real Florian Wirtz at Liverpool”, it’s clear to see some of the blame for the Reds’ fragile title defence is being deflected away from their new attacking midfielder.
