Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has claimed that Liverpool have to “destroy” their midfield in order for Florian Wirtz to play there.
Wirtz produced arguably his best performance for the Reds in Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Real Madrid, creating more chances than anyone (five) at Anfield.
The 22-year-old was deployed on the left wing in place of Cody Gakpo, allowing the midfield of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai to continue.
Speaking to beINSPORTS, Wenger boldly declared that Wirtz can only play in the middle of the park for Liverpool if they “destroy” that area, hinting that he is a square peg in a round hole.
?? "He said to Liverpool, I'll come to you if I play number 10… So they started him and destroyed their midfield!"
Arsene Wenger on Liverpool's struggles to accommodate Florian Wirtz in his preferred position.#beINUCL #LFC #UCL pic.twitter.com/Seso9vIaRD
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) November 4, 2025
“Liverpool is an interesting example, when Wirtz had the choice between going to Bayern Munich or Liverpool, he said to Liverpool, ‘I come to you if I play No. 10, I do not want to play wide'”, Wenger said.
“Liverpool, to get him, they say ‘okay’. So they start him, but they destroy their midfield.
“To play Wirtz, they took Szoboszlai out (of the No. 10 position). Against Aston Villa, they come back to their normal midfield of last year.
“Tonight they play Wirtz on the side (left), because the manager has said if you want to play a game, you have to play wide, because I do not want to destroy the midfield.
FRANKFURT, GERMANY - Wednesday, October 22, 2025: Liverpool's Florian Wirtz applauds the supporters after the UEFA Champions League match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Liverpool FC at the Waldstadion. Liverpool won 5-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“He (Wirtz) will have to play left where he was at Leverkusen.”
This all seems fairly hyperbolic from Wenger, considering Wirtz’s Liverpool career is still in its infancy.
The German hasn’t yet fully adjusted to the English game, in terms of its pace and physicality, but he is more than capable of excelling as a No. 10, as he did at Bayer Leverkusen.
The fact that Liverpool’s midfield has been disrupted by injury to Gravenberch and a loss of form for Mac Allister also hasn’t helped Wirtz.
Once he is fully up to speed with the Premier League, there is no reason why he can’t be an elite option in front of two more deep-lying midfielders.
The fact that he can also excel on the left flank is a bonus for Arne Slot, and he is arguably a better option than Gakpo there ahead of Sunday’s trip to Man City.