At 22, Florian Wirtz arrived at Liverpool with big hopes and even bigger expectations.
The German wonderkid, known for his creativity and calmness on the ball, was supposed to bring control and vision to Arne Slot’s system.
Yet, after seven Premier League appearances, fans are still waiting for that spark. No goals, no assists — and plenty of questions. But as the numbers and performances suggest, there’s more to this story than meets the eye.
A slow start or a smart plan for Florian Wirtz?
Wirtz hasn’t exactly lit up the scoresheet, but that doesn’t mean he’s off the pace. He’s played 521 minutes so far, completing 80% of his passes and winning 20 duels.
His style is different from what Premier League fans are used to — less chaos, more chess. He reads the game, takes his time, and looks to create openings rather than chase them.
At Bayer Leverkusen, everything flowed through him. He was the main creative outlet, dictating tempo and linking every move. At Liverpool, the setup is new, the speed is faster, and the spaces are tighter.
According to reports, Slot wants him to adapt to the system before he takes full creative charge.
| Player | Season | Club | Age | Duel % | Poss Won | Prog Carries | Fwd Passes | Fwd Pass % | Key Passes | Prog Passes | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F. Wirtz | 2025/26 | Liverpool | 22 | 3.5 | 17.1 | 85.3 | 26.9 | 14.4 | 40.3 | 28.7 | 521 |
Explanation of Metrics:
- Duel % – Percentage of duels won (very low here at 3.5).
- Poss Won – Percentage of possessions recovered (17.1).
- Prog Carries – Progressive carries per 90 minutes (strong at 85.3).
- Fwd Passes – Forward passes per 90 minutes (26.9).
- Fwd Pass % – Accuracy rate of forward passes (14.4%).
- Key Passes – Passes leading directly to a shot (40.3 percentile).
- Prog Passes – Progressive passes per 90 minutes (28.7).
- Minutes – Total minutes played in the sample (521).
The quiet role hiding in plain sight
What many haven’t noticed is that Wirtz is quietly influencing Liverpool’s rhythm. He’s taken 14 corners, completed nearly half of his dribbles, and often helps progress the ball through the left half-space.
Players like Salah and Gakpo are finding more space thanks to his positioning — a sign that his off-ball intelligence is already paying off.
Liverpool’s attack, once reliant on quick transitions, now has moments of calm. Wirtz provides balance, ensuring control when the tempo drops. It’s subtle work — the kind that doesn’t make highlight reels but makes the team tick.
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The calm before the storm
Behind the scenes, the club seems unfazed. Slot reportedly views Wirtz as a long-term project, not an instant headline-maker. Liverpool paid big money for him, but not for quick returns. They bought a thinker, not a sprinter.
And history is on his side. Even players like Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva needed time to settle into England’s tempo before mastering it. Once Wirtz adjusts fully, his sharp vision and flawless timing will shine through.
From patience to payoff for Florian Wirtz?
It’s easy to judge players by stats, but Wirtz’s value can’t be measured by numbers alone. His influence comes through control, positioning, and decision-making — the invisible threads that hold a team together. When his first assist or goal arrives, the conversation will flip in an instant.
Liverpool didn’t just buy a playmaker. They bought the future nerve center of their attack. The calm before the storm is always quiet — and right now, Florian Wirtz is learning to control it.
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