SAFF Saudi Arabia KingÕs Cup 2023-24 Round 16 Steven Gerrard, Head Coach of Al Ettifaq FC during their Round 16 of the S
Join AI Pro
Join AI Pro
Florian Wirtz finally produced something tangible for Liverpool in midweek, registering his second assist of the season against LASK. It was better, and Liverpool needed better. One decent night, though, does not wipe away the wider issue.
The problem is not hard to spot. Wirtz has looked short of rhythm, short of conviction and, at times, short of the basics. Against Manchester City at the weekend he barely influenced the game, and what stood out most was how often he misplaced simple passes. For a player signed to decide matches, that is a red flag.
There has already been loud criticism from former Liverpool voices, and some of it has been deserved. Wirtz was bought to raise the technical ceiling of this side. So far, too often, he has looked weighed down by the responsibility rather than elevated by it.
Steven Gerrard points to confidence
Steven Gerrard’s reading of the situation is clear. He does not deny the underperformance, but he believes the root cause is confidence rather than a lack of quality. That matters, because if the issue is mental, it can be repaired. If it is structural, Liverpool have a bigger problem.
Gerrard said on The Overlap: “I’m not denying that he’s underperforming and that we should have seen an awful lot more in terms of the price tag and what have you, but I just think that there’s a chance, and it’s happened previously, where players can turn it round. I think he’s got the talent to turn it round.”
He then got more specific: “His confidence is shot at Liverpool at the moment. You can see it when you watch him live. He’s giving the ball away, simple balls that he wouldn’t give away. I think at times he’s maybe not shown [for the ball] when normally he’s full of confidence.”
That is probably the most accurate assessment. Players low on confidence do not only miss chances or force passes. They stop demanding the ball, they hide in games and they make safe actions look complicated.
Liverpool form and Germany contrast
The contrast with Germany remains stark. Gerrard made that point too, saying: “I watch him for Germany, a different player, completely different player. He just seems to be playing with his shoulders back, different energy, getting on the ball. He’s turning in pockets of space. He’s actually executing in the final third in terms of his passes.
“You’ve seen it at Leverkusen. I know it’s a different level, but you’re watching a different player. I think it’s confidence and the price tag.”
Photo: IMAGO
That is the key. Nobody has forgotten what Wirtz looked like at Bayer Leverkusen. Nobody doubts the talent. The debate is whether Liverpool can create the conditions for that player to reappear regularly in the Premier League and Champions League.
For more on the wider debate around Liverpool, the focus remains on how quickly Iraola can unlock one of his biggest attacking assets.
Andoni Iraola has a fix to find
Andoni Iraola now owns this problem. His job is not to admire Wirtz’s ceiling, it is to restore his output. The assist against LASK is a start, nothing more. Liverpool need authority from him, cleaner passing, and more personality between the lines.
Confidence is fragile in elite football. Once it goes, every touch can feel heavy. Wirtz still has the talent to turn this around, and Gerrard is right on that much. The question is how long Liverpool can wait for the real version of Florian Wirtz to show up consistently.
Right now, one decent display has bought him time. It has not ended the doubts.