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Ivory CoastIs Liverpool Giving Up on Florian Wirtz Too Soon?
Florian Wirtz has struggled to match his Leverkusen form at Liverpool, but stats show why the club made a record investment.
Big Investment, Sudden Drop
Liverpool spent a then-club record fee of 117.5 million euros to sign Florian Wirtz last summer. Expectations were massive for the German playmaker, but the transfer coincided with a sharp downturn for the entire team.
Liverpool suffered 12 league defeats after losing only four times the previous season. That marked the club's highest loss total in over a decade. After an 84-point title-winning campaign, the team dropped 24 points and ended up closer to relegation spots on points than to winning the title. Arne Slot was fired as manager, and the club terminated Mohamed Salah's contract. Wirtz has contributed five goals and three assists since his arrival, including just one assist this season.
Rare Production at Leverkusen
The frustration among fans and pundits is clear, but Wirtz's past form explains why managers like Hansi Flick and Xabi Alonso praised him as a world-class talent. During his time at Bayer Leverkusen, Wirtz put up attacking numbers seen only from the sport's finest players.
Looking at top European leagues since 2010, players who handle heavy minutes, touch the ball at least 80 times per 90 minutes, complete 80 percent of passes, generate multiple shots, and complete at least two dribbles per match are extremely rare. Wirtz reached those marks in back-to-back seasons before turning 22, placing his production alongside Lionel Messi, Lamine Yamal, Eden Hazard, and Michael Olise.
Fewer Touches in Dangerous Areas
The dip in Liverpool's attack matches a steep drop in Wirtz's ball involvement. His per-game touch count has dropped by nearly 20 touches per match compared to his time in Germany.
His touches in the attacking third have fallen from 50 per game with Leverkusen to 35 per game at Liverpool. He rarely gets the ball in the central space outside the penalty box, known to analysts as zone 14. With opposing defenses blocking that area and Liverpool unable to feed him consistently, Wirtz is taking fewer shots, attempting fewer take-ons, and creating fewer chances.
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