'On the fringes': Former England international blasts Liverpool player for 'not pulling his weight' vs PSG

Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Rousing the Kop or go back to LFC Live.

Liverpool’s Champions League campaign came to a bitter end with a 2-0 defeat to PSG, and Florian Wirtz found himself under the spotlight after another frustrating evening. Who was Liverpool’s most disappointing player against PSG on Tuesday?

Liverpool never established the kind of possession-based control that would have allowed him to thrive, and the result was a subdued display at Anfield.Speaking after the game, Townsend suggested the wider tactical setup had worked against both player and team.He said (via BBC Sport): “I think the problem is Arne Slot was expecting this season to have more possession and more domination, so you can get Florian Wirtz more into the game.“That has not worked out the way he hoped. Wirtz is on the fringes, and he is not pulling his weight out of possession.”It is a damning assessment, but one that reflects how anonymous Wirtz looked for long periods against PSG.

Wirtz was not alone in underperforming, but as one of the players expected to make the difference, his lack of impact stood out.Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty ImagesThere is still every reason to believe Wirtz can become a major player for Liverpool, because the talent is obvious. The challenge now is to respond, adapt and get more comfortable in Slot’s system than he looked on this difficult night in Paris.READ MORE: Arne Slot’s disastrous second season at Liverpool was summed up by dismal decision against PSGJoin Our NewsletterReceive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox