Florian Wirtz's form at Liverpool continues to be a hot topic as his struggles continue, with one pundit giving an inside view of what he's heard from someone close to the Reds' squad
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 12: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Florian Wirtz of Liverpool looks on during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Liverpool FC and Fulham at Anfield on September 12, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Florian Wirtz continues to struggle at Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
More doubts are being expressed about Florian Wirtz at Liverpool, with one pundit now suggesting he may even need to leave Anfield.
Wirtz has come under increasing scrutiny over his performances for the Reds, with the German international continuing to struggle to make a true impact after a disappointing first season with the club following his record-breaking move from Bayer Leverkusen.
The 23-year-old has recorded just one assist from six appearances so far this season, with his latest display in Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Bournemouth on Sunday seeing the debate on his place in Andoni Iraola’s side reaching new levels.
Jamie Carragher has called for Wirtz to be dropped, and has expressed his doubts about whether he will be able to hit the heights he reached back in Germany.
Other pundits have come out in support of Wirtz, although former Newcastle and Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew has questioned his application, despite getting positive feedback from those close to the Liverpool squad.
“If things aren’t going well, there is usually a frustration in players to improve. It doesn’t seem to me that he is bothered,” Pardew told talkSPORT.
ADO Den Haag trainer / coach Alan Pardew during the Dutch Eredivisie match between AZ Alkmaar and ADO Den Haag at AFAS stadium on March 07, 2020 in Alkmaar, The Netherlands(Photo by ANP Sport via Getty Images)
Alan Pardew has questioned what he's heard about Florian Wirtz from one of his teammates(Image: 2016 ANP Sport)
“He seems to drift at times, especially when Liverpool isn’t functioning well. [Alexander] Isak is starting to come to the fore, and it might happen for Wirtz too, but my gut tells me it won’t.
“I have my doubts that he will be a success at Liverpool. I think he may need to move to another club at some point.
“I have a connection there with Freddie Woodman’s father, who tells me he is an outstanding footballer and that his application is there. But it doesn’t seem to be happening on the pitch. I hope it does but it is getting a bit too far down the road. It needs to happen quite soon.”
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Wirtz will soon link up with his national team, where he will get the chance to work with legendary Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp. The 59-year-old takes charge of his country for the first time during the international break, and has selected Wirtz in the second of two groups of players who will play against Serbia and Greece at the beginning of October.
Before working with him for the first time, Klopp came to Wirtz’s defense and suggested that he had been too heavily criticized.
"We have to move away from the idea that we need to see special moments from him. He is there to help us as a team. We have to make sure that Flo feels comfortable with us," he said.
Germany's National coach Juergen Klopp addresses a press conference to announce his squad, on September 17, 2026 at the headquarters of DFB (German Football Federation) in Frankfurt, western Germany, ahead of the Nations league football matches. (Photo by Hannes P. Albert / AFP via Getty Images)
Jurgen Klopp has jumped to Wirtz's defense after recent criticism(Image: Getty Images)
"When the team works, then every player shines as a consequence. You have to be satisfied with a game in which Flo Wirtz gave everything but didn't have a goal or assist.
"We simply have to give the boy the feeling: 'That was more than good enough today. You helped us as a team. We won 1-0 or 2-0.'
"And then all the experts sit there and discuss why it still didn't work out for him. There are just as many reasons to say: 'He is performing perfectly fine.' Now we'll take the next steps together. That applies for Flo and all the others."