Wirtz now starting to top surprise metrics at Liverpool which bodes extremely well for the future - opinion
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It may have been a disappointing first season with Liverpool for Florian Wirtz, but the signs are appearing that he is simply being unlucky.Much more had been expected from the German after Liverpool decided to part with more than £100m and sign him from Bayer Leverkusen.Nevertheless, Wirtz is clearly working extremely hard to turn things around, and interestingly topped some surprise running metrics during the Reds’ defeat against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday. Photo Credit: Getty Images/Nick Taylor/Clive Brunskill/Allsport Wirtz leads the way in running stats for LiverpoolArne Slot was keen to praise the effort of his Liverpool players against PSG during his pre-Everton press conference on Friday, insisting that several of them had ‘broken records’ in the match.According to The Times, Wirtz was at the forefront of this, having topped the charts in ‘high-speed run count, run count and high-speed distance run.’Essentially what this means is that the 22-year-old ran more times than any of his teammates, ran quickly more than anyone and also ran further at a high speed.While Liverpool fans would no doubt prefer to see Wirtz leading the way in metrics such as chances created and assists, his efforts off the ball suggest that he will thrive once the Reds get back to being a cohesive unit.
The effort is certainly there.Photo by Ryan Crockett/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty ImagesREAD MORE: Liverpool given warning over what Everton will do to Alexander Isak if he starts on SundayLiverpool will see the best of Wirtz next seasonIt has been a chastening season for everyone associated with Liverpool, and given the weight of expectation on him, Wirtz has had a worse time than many.However, his improved running statistics suggest that he is now physically capable of being the player Liverpool signed him to be.If he can combine all of his clear on-the-ball talents with this newfound stamina – and, crucially, Liverpool get the right players around him consistently enough to make a difference – Wirtz should begin to truly look like a £116m player next season.One accusation levelled at Liverpool’s No. 7 is that he is simply far too lightweight to ever make an impact in a division as physical as the Premier League.
But as he continues what has been a frustratingly long adaptation, Wirtz is clearly improving on that front. Join Our NewsletterReceive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox