Liverpool’s Champions League campaign came to a bitter end with a 2-0 defeat to PSG, and Florian Wirtz found himself under the spotlight after another frustrating evening.
With Arne Slot deploying Wirtz out on the left, the hope was that he could drift inside and influence the game in dangerous areas, but that plan never really came together. The German struggled to stamp his authority on the contest and was largely kept on the fringes.
It was the kind of performance that summed up a difficult night for Liverpool, who failed to find the cutting edge they needed and are now out of Europe. In the aftermath, former England international Andros Townsend did not hold back, calling Wirtz out for his display.
Who was Liverpool’s most disappointing player against PSG on Tuesday?
We needed so much more…
FBL-EUR-C1-LIVERPOOL-PSG
Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images
Andros Townsend calls out Florian Wirtz performance
Rather than dictating play in central areas, Wirtz was forced to operate from the left, where he struggled to get involved consistently.
Liverpool never established the kind of possession-based control that would have allowed him to thrive, and the result was a subdued display at Anfield.
Speaking after the game, Townsend suggested the wider tactical setup had worked against both player and team.
He said (via BBC Sport): “I think the problem is Arne Slot was expecting this season to have more possession and more domination, so you can get Florian Wirtz more into the game.
MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES
“That has not worked out the way he hoped. Wirtz is on the fringes, and he is not pulling his weight out of possession.”
It is a damning assessment, but one that reflects how anonymous Wirtz looked for long periods against PSG. Liverpool needed intensity, quality and influence in the final third, yet their attacking threat never truly clicked.
Wirtz was not alone in underperforming, but as one of the players expected to make the difference, his lack of impact stood out.
Florian Wirtz during Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool - Premier League
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
There is still every reason to believe Wirtz can become a major player for Liverpool, because the talent is obvious. But this was a disappointing performance on a huge stage, and one that will invite criticism.
The challenge now is to respond, adapt and get more comfortable in Slot’s system than he looked on this difficult night in Paris.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox