Florian Wirtz didn’t live up to the hype in his first season at Liverpool, but there was enough promise to show that he should be written off at your peril.
The German’s £116 million move from Bayer Leverkusen understandably caused great excitement, given his reputation as one of Europe’s most gifted players.
In fact, Jurgen Klopp even described him as a “once-in-a-century” footballer.
What unfolded in his first year as a Liverpool player was disappointing, but how much can really be blamed on him?
Started40
As Sub9
Unused0
Goals7
Assists8
Total Apps49
Liverpool were Premier League champions heading into the new season, so to see Wirtz and Alexander Isak arriving for record-breaking fees only added to the feeling that the Reds would retain the title.
Wirtz joined off the back of two Player of the Year-winning seasons in the Bundesliga, with his touch, intelligence and end product all widely seen as world-class.
Liverpool fans had watched from afar as he won the title with Xabi Alonso at Leverkusen, going unbeaten in the process, and to beat Bayern Munich to his signature felt significant.
But as is the case with so many foreign players coming to England, Wirtz immediately found it tough to cope with the physicality of the Premier League.
His lean 5’9″ frame was bullied in the opening weeks, and while moments of class were produced, too many performances were forgettable.
It took until October for Wirtz to register his first Liverpool assist, against Eintracht Frankfurt, barring one in the Community Shield which remains a glorified friendly.
As the winter months arrived, though, the 23-year-old started to turn heads, as Liverpool’s magician hit his stride.
Florian Wirtz finds his feet before injury strikes
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, December 27, 2025: (L-R) Liverpool's Florian Wirtz celebrates with team-mates Hugo Ekitike and Milos Kerkez after scoring the second goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
All season, it was clear to see that Wirtz possessed unique talent – his spatial awareness and decision-making stood out – but he only truly shone for a couple of months.
That came in and around the Christmas period, when his influence grew immeasurably and a promising partnership with Hugo Ekitike emerged.
In the space of 11 matches, between Tottenham away on December 20 and Newcastle at home on January 31, Wirtz registered at least one goal contribution in seven of them.
Overall in that period, he bagged six goals and three assists, including emphatic finishes against Barnsley, Burnley and Newcastle.
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard made it clear how much he admired Wirtz, telling TNT Sports that he would have loved to play alongside him.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, March 15, 2026: Liverpool's Florian Wirtz during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“Game by game he’s evolving, he’s improving. After a tough start, big price tag, a lot of pressure, big move for him,” Gerrard said.
“In terms of this kid’s technical level, it’s world class. He’s got the world at his feet. He’s so exciting to watch.
“In tight little areas his first touch is immaculate. His awareness of what’s around him is superb, he’s always looking to create goals, he’s always trying to get on the scoresheet as well.
“For me, I always watch players and think to myself: ‘Would I like to play with him?’. I would have loved to play with this kid.”
Cruelly, just as Wirtz came close to the level many expected of him, he suffered a back injury and his season never clicked into gear again.
Can Florian Wirtz ‘do a Roberto Firmino’ at Liverpool?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, April 25, 2026: Liverpool's Florian Wirtz speaks to the linesman during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Wirtz returned in March after nearly a month out, at a time when the unrest with Arne Slot was only growing amid increasingly glum performances.
The rhythm that the Germany international had previously found deserted him, and it is hard to think of a performance of note between then and the final day of the season.
He scored just once after his return, against Crystal Palace, and even his most ardent fan would admit that his body language wasn’t brimming with fight.
But how much can we really criticise Wirtz, considering Liverpool’s woes and Slot’s use of him?
There are definite comparisons to Brendan Rodgers’ use of Roberto Firmino, with the Brazilian often played out of position and looking ineffective early on.
It took Jurgen Klopp to get the best out of him and his legendary status was sealed by the time he left.
PARIS, FRANCE - Wednesday, April 8, 2026: Liverpool's Florian Wirtz during the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 1st Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain FC and Liverpool FC at the Parc des Princes. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Slot doesn’t seem to be able to unleash Wirtz, and that is one of many reasons why a change in the dugout would have been preferable this summer.
Despite not fully firing, though, Wirtz (32) still created the fourth-most chances in the Champions League, behind only Arda Guler (35), Michael Olise (33) and Julian Alvarez (33).
If he is capable of that while struggling to be close to his best, that can only bode well for Liverpool.
Wirtz cost £116m and is considered a generational talent for a reason. There should be total faith in him coming good if deployed in his best role, roaming in and around the No. 10 and left-sided area.
Physically, he has already improved and a good pre-season behind him, with new speedy attacking signings aiding his creativity, will ensure he is primed to fire in 2026/27 under Andoni Iraola.
While the new coach likes to press high and create chances quickly after turnovers, when Bournemouth did build from the back, they relied on their attacking midfielder for creativity.
47 – Florian Wirtz has created 47 open play chances this season in the Premier League, the most by a player in their debut season for Liverpool since Mohamed Salah in 2017-18 (53). Heir. pic.twitter.com/bBk6KRK3bN
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 2, 2026
Like Firmino, you have to have pace in and around Wirtz to see him at his best; a couple of flying wingers and an improved Isak will immediately help.
It wasn’t the season we all hoped it would be for him, but he is a footballer with the world at his feet and is younger than many realise.
Just watch Wirtz excel for Germany as one of the best attacking players at the 2026 World Cup!
Best moment: His first Liverpool goal against Wolves.
Worst moment: An open-goal miss in the 1-0 defeat away to Galatasaray.
Role next season: Key starter and someone around whom the team should be built.