Former Burnley manager Sean Dyche suggested that Florian Wirtz looks 'boyish' as the German midfielder continues to provide little attacking output for the Reds
Florian Wirtz has been accused of looking 'boyish' by Sean Dyche
Florian Wirtz has been accused of looking 'boyish' by Sean Dyche(Image: Getty Images)
Former Burnley manager Sean Dyche accused Florian Wirtz of looking “boyish” as the Liverpool star adjusts to life in the Premier League.
After arriving from Bayer Leverkusen for a reported $157 million last June, Wirtz has struggled to find his footing at Anfield, providing little attacking output in his first two seasons under Arne Slot and Andoni Iraola. The German midfielder managed no goals and just one assist across his opening nine appearances for the Reds during the 2025 campaign, and he actively boasts the same stat line across five Premier League games this year.
While making an appearance on ‘ The Overlap Fan Debate,’ Dyche warned that Wirtz may be faltering under the heightened expectations that come with wearing the Liverpool badge. “Players can get fearful when the expectation on them is so big,” he explained.
“They can get fearful of being in the right place. As you know, when forwards are flying and absolutely purring, they're in the box every time the ball is in there. Just visually, to my eye, he [Wirtz] looks a little bit boyish.”
With time, however, Dyche suggested that Wirtz could grow into his own and excel with the Reds. “But that could come with learning about the Premier League,” he added.
“Some players go in like hand in glove, for others it takes time, and they build up to the Premier League."
As proof of Dyche’s claim, Jamie Carragher promptly pointed to Alexander Isak, who came to Anfield from Newcastle in a £125 million ($169m) deal last September — marking the most expensive signing in the club’s history.
Florian Wirtz has no goals and just one assist over five Premier League games this season
Florian Wirtz has no goals and just one assist over five Premier League games this season(Image: Getty Images)
Yet Isak’s start under Slot hardly went according to plan, as the Swedish phenom was frequently marred by fitness issues before a broken leg last December sidelined him for around four months.
This season, Isak has returned to fine form, amassing four Premier League goals in five appearances.
“They're the two most expensive players we signed last year,” Carragher said of Wirtz and Isak. “Alexander Isak is now getting the goals and coming into it, but it's still not happening for Florian Wirtz.”
Given Wirtz’s current struggles, Carragher wondered if Iraola would explore alternatives in midfield. “I'm not going to say any more on it, but I wonder if there are other options in the squad to maybe change this,” he added.
Carragher acknowledged that Wirtz has failed to replicate the “creative spark” that Trent Alexander-Arnold provided Liverpool before leaving for Real Madrid in 2025, adding: "In some ways, and this probably sounds silly, Wirtz is a replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, because Liverpool's most creative player was a full-back.
"It was a freak; it was not normal. So, when Trent was leaving, you can't go and buy a right-back who does that, that's impossible.
"What Liverpool didn't have was a Kevin De Bruyne or a Martin Ødegaard. They had workmanlike midfielders, but the creative spark was in Trent."