Stop Writing Off Florian Wirtz, Liverpool Are Starting To Give Him What He Needs

I have seen enough already to know where this Florian Wirtz conversation is heading, and I think some Liverpool supporters are allowing rival fans and social media noise to do far too much of the thinking for them. Has Wirtz been brilliant? No. Has he hit the levels we all know he is capable of? Not yet. But this idea that he has somehow failed, that Liverpool have made a mistake, or that we should already be looking for a way out is absolute nonsense. We are three league games into a new season, under a new manager, in a new system, with new players around him. If I was grading Wirtz right now, I would probably give him a six out of ten, and that is perfectly fine at this stage. I think he has gone from maybe a four, to a five, to a six, and now we want to see those sevens, eights and nines.

Wirtz Is Being Judged By The Price Tag

The biggest problem Wirtz has is the fee. That is the truth of it. When you arrive for that kind of money, every misplaced pass gets clipped up, every time you are brushed off the ball gets shared around social media, and every quiet spell becomes evidence that you are supposedly struggling. Opposition fans want it to fail because it gives them something to laugh about, and some of our own supporters are starting to absorb that narrative.

I am not saying we should ignore the things Wirtz needs to improve. He can dwell on the ball for too long, he can get knocked off it more easily than I would like, and there are moments when I think he is almost overthinking what should be a simple decision. That is fair criticism. What I do not think is fair is pretending those moments tell the whole story. There is a lot of good work that goes unseen, particularly off the ball. His counter pressing is good, his movement between the lines is clever, and he keeps finding pockets of space where he can hurt teams. There have already been moments against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest where you could see the player Liverpool thought they were buying.

Sometimes I think people make their mind up early on a player and then spend the rest of the game looking for evidence to prove themselves right. If Wirtz loses possession, it confirms the argument. If he presses well, creates space or makes an intelligent run, it gets ignored because it does not fit the narrative. I refuse to do that. I still believe Liverpool signed the right player, and I still believe his ceiling is higher than some of the alternatives people now use as a stick to beat him with.

Iraola’s Football Should Help Wirtz

The biggest reason I am relaxed about Wirtz is that I can see Liverpool changing around him.

We are starting to move the ball quicker. We are starting to look forward earlier. We are creating more of those chaotic, transitional moments that Liverpool teams have always thrived in, and I think that suits Wirtz far more than slow, predictable possession. We saw it at Ipswich. Andoni Iraola wanted Liverpool aggressive, on the front foot and looking forward when possession was won. For the first 30 minutes in particular, that is exactly what happened.

I want Wirtz closer to Alexander Isak because the relationship between those two could become massive for us. Isak is starting to play on the shoulder again and Liverpool are finally recognising those movements. The second goal at Ipswich was a perfect example. Isak wanted the ball early when Virgil van Dijk had possession, it did not come, but the move continued, Cody Gakpo received it and then played that beautiful pass in behind. Isak did the rest. That is what I want to see repeatedly, players looking up and finding our number nine before the opposition can reset.

Wirtz should benefit enormously from that kind of football. When defenders are worried about Isak running in behind, Bradley Barcola flying at them from one side, Cody Gakpo looking sharp from the other and Victor Munoz offering even more pace, suddenly there are spaces everywhere. Wirtz does not have to carry the creative burden on his own. He can find those areas between midfield and defence and let the movement around him create the opportunities.

Isak Looks Ready To Explode

I was worried about Isak last season. I said it openly. Fitness, confidence, the way Liverpool were playing, all of it made it difficult to judge what we had actually bought. Against Ipswich, though, I saw the version of Alexander Isak I have been waiting for.

Two goals inside nine minutes completely changed the mood around the game. More importantly, both finishes showed confidence. He got the first one out of his feet quickly and hit it. The second showed composure, movement and the confidence to take another touch, shift the goalkeeper and finish properly.

That is what a top striker looks like.

The movement is what encourages me most. Isak is not constantly dropping deep trying to become part of the build-up. He is stretching teams. He is staying high, playing on shoulders and demanding that Liverpool release the ball quicker. Iraola has spoken about wanting Liverpool to look forward immediately after winning possession, and Isak himself has talked about those transitional moments. That tells me this is deliberate.

If we can keep feeding him properly, the goals will come. Simple as that.

Liverpool’s Attack Suddenly Looks Frightening

This is where my optimism really starts to grow.

Gakpo is in excellent form and looks completely locked in after all the nonsense around his future. Barcola gives us explosive pace and directness. Munoz is full of energy. Rio Ngumoha remains a brilliant option. Hugo Ekitike will eventually return. Behind all of them you have Wirtz, and through the middle you have an Isak who suddenly looks like he believes again.

That is a lot for any defence to think about.

I am not saying Liverpool are suddenly perfect. I still worry about midfield. I still think we need a proper defensive midfielder. I still have concerns at right-back. Arsenal look more settled than everybody else right now and I am not ready to start screaming about a title challenge after one win at Ipswich.

What I am saying is that I can see what Iraola is building.

Atletico Madrid on Wednesday will tell us more. It is a proper European test and I want Barcola starting if the manager thinks he can give us an hour. I want Liverpool to go after them from the first whistle and see whether this new aggression travels onto the Champions League stage.

And I want Wirtz right in the middle of it.

He does not need people declaring him a superstar after three games, and he certainly does not need people declaring him a failure either. He needs time, confidence and a Liverpool team that plays to his strengths.

I think that team is beginning to appear.

Much love.