Florian Wirtz at Liverpool: From Flop Rumors to Anfield's New Engine

The narrative surrounding Florian Wirtz has undergone a total transformation. When Liverpool triggered his £116 million release clause last summer, expectations were astronomical. However, for the first four months of the season, Wirtz looked like a player drowning in the physical intensity of the Premier League.

Fast forward to today, and the German playmaker is being hailed as the "compass" of Arne Slot’s post-Klopp evolution.

📉 The Rocky Start: Quality Over Chaos

The transition from Bayer Leverkusen’s "Invincibles" to the Anfield pressure cooker was anything but seamless. Between August and November 2025, Wirtz struggled to find his rhythm, failing to record a single goal or assist in his first seven matches.

• The Adaptation Struggle: Tactical rigidity and minor fitness issues saw him sidelined or substituted early. Critics pointed to his "lightweight" frame, but in reality, he was a player still learning to release the ball quicker and ride contact in a more physical league.

  
  

• The Turning Point: Everything changed on December 20, 2025, during a 2–1 win over Tottenham. Wirtz provided a stunning assist that seemed to unlock his confidence, sparking a run of form where he has been involved in 9 goals across all competitions in just six weeks.

⚡ The Winter Explosion

Since Christmas, Wirtz has been nothing short of sensational, arguably the most creative player in England.

Last 10 Matches (All Competitions):

• Goals: 6

• Assists: 4

• Chances Created: 29 (most in the Premier League since Christmas)

• Champions League: 1 goal, 1 assist in a 6–0 rout of Qarabag

His partnership with Hugo Ekitike has been devastating, providing Liverpool with fluidity and incision they lacked earlier in the campaign.

🧠 The Ekitike Connection: A Prolific Partnership

The 2025/26 season has seen the birth of a terrifying telepathy between Wirtz and fellow summer signing Hugo Ekitike. The duo has already combined for six goals in all competitions—more than any other Premier League pair this season.

• The Slot Blueprint: Arne Slot has given Wirtz the freedom to wander centrally and into the left half-space. This "free-roam" role allows Wirtz to dictate tempo while Ekitike exploits the space created by Wirtz's gravity.

  
  

• Refining the "Artist": Slot recently noted that Wirtz is more than just a creative "artist," highlighting a "meaner" side to his game, a relentless work rate and a refusal to hide even when he loses the ball.

🔥 Premier League Proof

Crucially, Wirtz hasn’t just dazzled, but he’s adapted. The physicality that once troubled him is now something he controls: quicker release, smarter positioning, and the confidence to demand the ball under pressure. Where he once survived matches, he now dictates them.

🔮 The Verdict: Taking Control

Liverpool may still be searching for full consistency, but Florian Wirtz is no longer the problem; he is the solution. In a season of tactical tweaks, his individual level has offered clarity and direction.

The ultimate test arrives this Sunday against Manchester City at Anfield. If Wirtz can dominate the midfield against the reigning champions, the £116m price tag will no longer be a point of debate; it will be seen as the moment he didn't just arrive in England, but took control of it.