It’s been a difficult few months for Florian Wirtz following his move to Liverpool in the summer. And a new verdict has been reached following his latest performance for Germany against Slovakia.
There were high hopes for the 22-year-old after he arrived at Anfield for £116m, especially with him fresh off the back of a season with Bayer Leverkusen which saw him grab 22 goal contributions. But he hasn’t been able to make his mark for his new club, struggling to match the Premier League’s speed and physicality.
Wirtz is yet to register a goal or assist so far in the league, leading to widespread criticism from multiple pundits, including Gary Neville, who was far from impressed with the German during Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat against Manchester City. His every move on the pitch is being placed under a microscope, and that’s no different when he’s away on international duty.
How Wirtz Played During Germany vs Slovakia
Having flattered to deceive during Germany’s World Cup Qualifier against Luxembourg last week, Wirtz needed a strong performance in their next match against Slovakia to boost his confidence. Picked to start the game by Julian Nagelsmann, the Liverpool ace lined up alongside Leroy Sane and Serge Gnabry, with Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade leading the line.
And while he’s not been at his best so far this season, you wouldn’t have realised that based on his most recent performance. He was everywhere for Die Mannschaft, registering 99 touches on the ball — a total bettered only by centre-back Jonathan Tah.
Primarily playing off the left, the former Leverkusen star was at his creative best, setting up Sane for the winger’s two goals on the night. The first assist from Wirtz was a delightful ball over the top of the defence, while his second was an exquisite cross from the flank, which his teammate buried from close range.
Check Out His Highlights Below:
Beyond those two highlights, Wirtz acted as the conductor at the heart of Germany’s 6-0 win, playing six key passes on the night which helped create additional opportunities. The only thing that was missing from his game was a goal, with him off target with both his shots on the night.
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Florian Wirtz Statistics During Germany 6-0 Slovakia |
|
|---|---|
|
Minutes |
77 |
|
Touches |
99 |
|
Assists |
2 |
|
Big Chances Created |
3 |
|
Key Passes |
6 |
|
Accurate Passes |
72/77 |
|
Accurate Cross |
2/5 |
|
Total Shots |
2 |
|
Shots on Target |
0 |
|
Dribbles (Successful) |
3 (1) |
Liverpool Fans on Wirtz’s Performance vs Slovakia
It was everything that Liverpool fans had hoped to see from Wirtz on Merseyside, and there will no doubt be hope that this can be the springboard for his club form. Indeed, some supporters have given their thoughts on his latest performance, believing that it’s only a matter of time until he starts producing in the Premier League. Journalist James Pearce was thrilled with what he had seen, writing:
“Special player Wirtz. Difficult start to his LFC career but so gifted. It’s a case of when not if he lights up the Premier League.”
A fan followed up by calling him a “generational baller.” And a fellow supporter believed his passing on the night was fantastic, saying: “Wirtz’s creative passing has been insane.”
While some chose to just celebrate the performance, others believe that it proves something else – that it’s Liverpool’s system which is failing Wirtz, not the other way around. One fan said, “This Florian Wirtz performance is showing everyone that he isn’t the problem at Liverpool.” And that was echoed by a second supporter, who stated: “Florian Wirtz with Germany is just proving it’s the current Liverpool setup that’s the problem, not him.”
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