This week's Blood Red assesses the ongoing debate about Florian Wirtz's Anfield adaptation as argues why the Liverpool No.7 needs time to show his true class
Florian Wirtz of Liverpool plays during the UEFA Champions League match between Liverpool and Real Madrid at Anfield in Liverpool, England, on November 4, 2025. (Photo by Steven Halliwell/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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To coincide with the start of Liverpool's 10-year agreement with Adidas earlier this year, a giant billboard appeared in the city centre of new signing Florian Wirtz, decked out from head to toe in the German manufacturers' apparel.
Above the head of the tracksuited Wirtz, the word 'superstar' was written and the enormous advertisement, which was wrapped around the Radio City Tower in Houghton Street, was more than a subtle nod to what was expected to be a riotous new association for club, brand and player.
The formal start of Liverpool's partnership with Adidas began on August 1, confirming the new signing from Bayer Leverkusen would be taking the No.7 shirt.
To those who place significance on such decisions, it spoke to both the value of Wirtz within Arne Slot's rapidly evolving squad and the bravery of the young German himself, to take on a squad number so steeped in rich history at Anfield.
Those who follow in the footsteps of Kevin Keegan, Luis Suarez and, most pertinently, Sir Kenny Dalglish must prove themselves worthy, after all.
So far, though, things have not quite gone according to plan and national boss Julian Nagelsmann this week became the latest in a lengthening list of influential voices from Germany football to be asked about the attacking midfielder's adaptation process on Merseyside.
"The whole club itself is not as stable this year as it was last year. It's much harder to slip into the team now," remarked Nagelsmann, adding: "Ultimately, the overall situation is such that he just needs a little more time - which is normal and you see that with other players, who move to the English Premier League as well."
It was a reasonable and astute observation from Germany coach Nagelsmann. But in a world where the loudest and most outrageous are often heard first, the even-handed critique is rarely absorbed fully.
There have been fleeting glimpses of the stardust in the boots of Wirtz: the pirouette back-heel to Mohamed Salah at Chelsea; the Cruyff Turn to evade Declan Rice against Arsenal; the give-and-go with Alexander Isak against Atletico Madrid before Jeremie Frimpong got in his way after rounding the goalkeeper.
So far, though, those moments have been too few and far between for someone who took on the challenge of becoming the creative totem in the wake of Trent Alexander-Arnold's departure.
"A little boy," was Gary Neville's put-down after Sunday's 3-0 defeat to Manchester City and while that sound bite might have been a tad on the dramatic side, the physicality of the Premier League still looks like it is an issue for the 22-year-old.
At times, the former Leverkusen man seems surprised by the lack of time afforded to him in possession and the intensity and velocity of the Premier League is the major obstacle to seeing a flourishing Florian Wirtz. He is, though, not the root cause of Slot's problems nor the biggest issue that needs addressing. In that sense, he has simply been unfortunate.
He may, in fact, be able to take both advice and heart from Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch, given both took their own time to adapt fully to the rigours of England following their arrivals from the Bundesliga in 2023.
Gravenberch was a bit-part player under Jurgen Klopp before redefining himself to become last season's young player of the year. Szoboszlai started well in 2023 but began to fade before re-establishing himself as an integral part of the set-up under Slot.
Liverpool view the Bundesliga as the most stylistically similar to the Premier League but the speed and power in England is considerably greater, meaning some of the finer imports take time, particularly if they are lithe playmakers, who rely more on touch and technique.
Time is something £116m Wirtz still has at Anfield, despite the overwhelming external debate.
The more general shift towards a direct, physical style, however, is in contrast to a player like Wirtz, whose gifts are centred around the fleet of foot and the sleight of hand. That much is inarguable and the brains must overpower the brawn if he is to be a success at Anfield.
Of course, for a team who have lost seven of their last 10 in all competitions and currently languish eighth during a campaign that sees them as defending champions, it's entirely fair to question when a player who cost an initial £100m might well step up to the plate and contribute in a more obvious, tangible sense.
The lack of numbers in the goals and assists column have been used to beat him down further but the scoffing is only amplified when news outlets run entire pieces around the playmaker being "left red-faced" and "embarrassed" by a simple - and ultimately meaningless - nutmeg in a game Liverpool actually eased to victory in recently against Aston Villa. Such is the life of the nine-figure footballer.
The noise is growing louder and the longer Liverpool's malaise goes on, the more intense the debate will get around Wirtz's suitability.
For those who champion his rare gifts, it's worth holding on to the fact that this is the star man of a team who won the Bundesliga title without defeat the season before last and the reigning player of the year in the top flight of his homeland.
It was those sort of performances that have had city-centre billboards proclaiming him as a superstar. In time, Wirtz has to show why that was much more than a slick marketing roll-out.
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