Florian Wirtz, Liverpool’s German playmaker, is struggling to adapt to English football. Renowned analyst Gary Neville shared his opinion on this matter.
According to him, Wirtz’s physical capabilities do not meet the demands of the Premier League. The 22-year-old player joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer for €125 million but has yet to score a goal or register an assist in the Premier League.
Although his performances in the Champions League have been relatively positive, his appearances in the English league are causing serious concern. Speaking on Sky Sports, Gary Neville said, “I initially thought Wirtz appeared to be a small player just based on his physique.
But that’s not the case.” These views have been echoed by other experts as well. Micah Richards and Joe Cole criticized the player for his lack of physical strength.
Statistical data also confirms Wirtz’s struggles in England. He has won only 35% of duels in the Premier League, compared to 45% in the Bundesliga.
In aerial challenges, his success rate stands at just 11%. Additionally, there are issues with delivering the ball to him in crucial areas.
The number of passes Wirtz receives in attacking zones has significantly decreased. Last season, he averaged touching the ball 80 times per game, but this has now dropped to 58.
His activity in the attacking zones has particularly declined. Another issue is his contribution to the team’s collective play.
Wirtz has created 16 goal-scoring opportunities for his teammates in the Premier League this season, but none of them have been converted into goals. For instance, in the game against Chelsea, he intercepted the ball at high speed and created an excellent chance for Mohamed Salah, but Salah failed to score.
Liverpool’s head coach, Arne Slot, has been testing Wirtz in various positions. He has been moved from central midfield to the left wing and delivered a strong performance in the Champions League match against Real Madrid.
However, these adjustments have yet to bring results in the Premier League. The main question remains: How much more time does Wirtz need to adapt to English football and fully showcase his potential?
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