Florian Wirtz's first season at Liverpool was a stark reminder that even the brightest talents can struggle under the immense pressure of the Premier League. The £116 million playmaker, once a Bundesliga sensation, is now at a crossroads, with fans and pundits alike questioning if he can rediscover his magic at Anfield.
Key Points:
- Florian Wirtz scored seven goals and provided seven assists in his debut Liverpool season.
- The German has struggled to reproduce the form that made him a star at Bayer Leverkusen.
- Jermaine Pennant believes Liverpool should give Wirtz more time to adapt to the Premier League.
- Dietmar Hamann warned that Liverpool could consider a change if Wirtz fails to make an impact in the coming weeks.
Wirtz Yet to Find His Best Form at Liverpool
Florian Wirtz endured a difficult first season at Liverpool after making the move from Bayer Leverkusen, where he had established himself as one of the Bundesliga's standout attacking players. The 23-year-old finished his debut campaign with seven goals and seven assists, but those numbers fell short of expectations after he had registered more than 20 goal contributions in each of his final two seasons in Germany.
Wirtz also endured a difficult 2026 World Cup in North America, and the midfielder has yet to rediscover his best form at the beginning of the 2026-27 season. That has already led to questions over whether he can become the player Liverpool believed they were signing — and whether the club could eventually consider offers for the expensive Germany international.
Pennant Urges Liverpool to Give Wirtz More Time
Former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant believes it would be premature for the club to give up on Wirtz. Speaking to GOAL, Pennant acknowledged the pressure surrounding the midfielder but pointed to the difficulty of adapting to a new league, team and manager.
"It's a big season for Wirtz. Obviously you give him the benefit of the doubt, of coming into a new league, getting used to a new team," Pennant said.
He also noted that some players need more than a full season before they truly settle, particularly when adapting to a new tactical system. Despite Wirtz's struggles, Pennant does not expect Liverpool to rush into selling him. He remains confident that Wirtz can eventually rediscover his form.
"He's a good player regardless of what's been going on and his fee. I think he can get better but if he doesn't perform like he did at Leverkusen… I don't think they'll be so quick to sell him because you need those kind of players in your squad," he added. "I'm sure he will come good."
Hamann Warns Wirtz Needs to Start Influencing Games
Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann offered a more concerned assessment, arguing that Wirtz needs to start making a greater impact soon. Hamann believes the German has worked too hard on the defensive side of his game while failing to provide enough creativity and attacking output.
The former Germany international argued that Wirtz needs the freedom to focus on creating and scoring, with his teammates doing more of the defensive work around him. "He's not there to win balls, he's there to set up goals and score goals," Hamann said.
The bigger concern, according to Hamann, is how long Wirtz has already gone without consistently producing those moments. He pointed to the physical demands of the Premier League as another challenge, while noting that some high-profile midfielders have struggled to adapt after arriving in England with major reputations.
Wirtz Facing a Crucial Few Weeks at Liverpool
Hamann believes the pressure could increase significantly if Wirtz fails to improve over the next few weeks. The former Liverpool star previously felt the midfielder deserved time to adapt, but believes the situation becomes more difficult the longer his struggles continue.
"I think if he doesn't start playing well, I think if he doesn't start influencing games in the next three or four weeks, I think by the time we have that international break, which is longer this year, I think we have a lot of paper talk, a lot of discussions," Hamann said.
He suggested that Liverpool could even explore a solution during the January transfer window if Wirtz's form does not improve. For now, however, the German still has an opportunity to change the narrative with his performances on the pitch.
Liverpool Remain Unbeaten Ahead of Tottenham Cup Clash
Wirtz failed to add to his goal contribution tally in Liverpool's latest fixture as the Reds were held to a 0-0 draw by Fulham in the Premier League. Despite the frustrating result, new Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola remains unbeaten in competitive matches since taking charge.
However, Liverpool have collected just six points from their opening four league games, leaving plenty of room for improvement. The Reds now turn their attention to a Carabao Cup third-round clash with Tottenham on Tuesday, giving Wirtz another opportunity to rediscover his attacking spark.
For a player carrying such high expectations, the coming weeks could prove crucial in determining whether Wirtz can finally begin to look like the Liverpool star everyone expected him to become.
