Liverpool legend suggests Florian Wirtz could be axed in dramatic twist
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(Credit: Imago)
Oliver Walton
Sat 6 September 2025 17:18, UK
Liverpool legend Steve Nicol has told Arne Slot that he must quickly figure out the solution to Florian Wirtz’s early Anfield teething issues or risk continuing to upset the balance of his side.
Florian Wirtz was a star in the Bundesliga for a number of years, and became one of the most highly-rated young midfielders in the world after firing Bayer Leverkusen to an unprecedented unbeaten league title in 2024.
Football Insider revealed in May that Liverpool were making progress towards a huge deal to sign Wirtz after meetings with him and his family, despite serious interest in his services from German giants Bayern Munich.
Wirtz officially made the move to Liverpool in June for an initial fee of £100million [Sky Sports], and explained that he was “very happy and proud” to be joining the club, but he has largely failed to impress on Merseyside so far.
The German playmaker is yet to register a goal or an assist after his first three Premier League appearances for the Reds, and Arne Slot has now been told that he needs to get to the bottom of his issues sooner rather than later before it becomes a pressing issue for Liverpool.
Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media
Slot has handed Wirtz starts in all of Liverpool’s three league games up to now, and even though they have won each of them, the 22-year-old has struggled to make his mark.
Reds legend Steve Nicol was asked on ESPN Extra Time (4 September) if Wirtz might have upset the balance of Liverpool’s team since his arrival, as he is a more attacking midfielder than Dominik Szoboszlai, and the Scot agreed that he had done so while also telling Slot that he needs to quickly figure out his issues by potentially dropping him to the bench.
It certainly does seem as though the balance isn’t quite right, and it’s up to Arne Slot to figure it out, whether that means playing somebody else, moving Wirtz, sticking with it or figuring it out some other way.
“It would be difficult to argue that the balance isn’t right because Wirtz is in there and not the old midfield three of [Alexis] Mac Allister, Szoboszlai and [Ryan] Gravenberch.”
Football Insider verdict
Wirtz has arguably been given a pretty easy ride at Liverpool up to now, as he was an instant starter in both the Community Shield and Premier League, and has played from the off in every game despite hardly impressing.
He is obviously a top player, and is likely to go on to do great things at Anfield, but he has not warranted his place as yet and so should be dropped from Slot’s eleven for the Reds’ trip to Burnley next Sunday (14 September).
AppearancesGoalsAssists1975765Wirtz’ Leverkusen career stats
It is not as if the Dutch boss is lacking options in attacking midfield, with Szoboszlai likely to move there if Wirtz was put on the bench with Conor Bradley then starting at right-back, and it may be exactly what the Germany international needs to really come to life in red.
The idea that he needs to prove himself and actually earn his place in the starting team could then properly kick Wirtz into gear if he does come off the bench against the Clarets, and his first goal contribution would surely open the floodgates for him to impress for the rest of the campaign.