The 0-3 defeat to Man City was not only a big blow to Liverpool's championship ambitions, it also made people continue to question the form of Florian Wirtz - a £116 million star expected to be the core of the Arne Slot era.
When leaving Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2025, Florian Wirtz brought with him the expectation of recreating the image of the new Premier League's Kevin De Bruyne - creative, dynamic and innovative. However, after 11 rounds, the German midfielder has not had any goals or assists. With a price of £116 million, the patience of fans is gradually running out.
Against Man City, Wirtz had a day of competition that was completely "swallowed". He was overwhelmed by Matheus Nunes and the midfield players in both strength and speed. Sky Sports even commented that Wirtz was like a boy at the Etihad, bewildered and small in front of Man City's squad.
No one denies the German midfielder's natural talent. He has soft skills, good vision and sophisticated ball handling skills. However, the Premier League is a different environment. Here, players not only need to be skillful, they also need to be strong enough, resourceful and ready to face fierce collisions.
Arne Slot has tried to find a suitable formula as he initially used Wirtz in the center position, then brought him back to the familiar left wing in the last 2 matches. Against Real Madrid, Wirtz somewhat regained the image of Leverkusen's bright star, but when he returned to England, against the brave Man City, he completely disappeared.
Liverpool lost 0-3 and Wirtz's poor form is only part of a gloomy picture. Goals from Erling Haaland, Nico Gonzalez and Jeremy Doku have seen The Kop suffer their fifth defeat in 11 Premier League games, dropping to 8th place and 8 points behind Arsenal. Even Man United, a team in the process of rebuilding, is above them thanks to their goal difference.
Not only Florian Wirtz, the entire Liverpool team played very hard, lacking vitality and seemed to not know what to do to escape the pressure. The loss to Man City can be considered one of Liverpool's worst performances in many years.
Arne Slot's side looked like they had no pre-match preparation. Liverpool's pace of the match was almost zero. They are overwhelmed by Man City in every aspect, from physical strength, movement, even spirit.
Arne Slot now has to face a difficult problem of how to get Wirtz and Liverpool back on track at the same time? The physical strength of the pillars is being questioned, the defense plays like a mortise, while the attack lacks connection and is deadly.
At the Etihad, Man City easily stretched Liverpool's system, continuously creating a gap between the centre-back and full-back. The "Red Brigade"'s combinations also became harmless as Salah, Wirtz and Ekitike could hardly make a difference.
Slot certainly cannot abandon Florian Wirtz because this young star is a long-term asset of the club. What he needs to do is find a way to help his player better adapt to the fierce pace of English football, while fostering his resilience and collision-resilience. Liverpool must be patient and continue to put their trust in the German midfielder, but they also need to demand more and Florian Wirtz must prove his worth.
For his part, the 22-year-old midfielder seems to feel more comfortable in the Champions League, where the pace of play is more suitable. However, for Arne Slot, the Premier League is the real stage to measure the character of every player. If he does not improve soon, Florian Wirtz is at risk of becoming a burden instead of the hope that fans have put on his shoulder.
Liverpool used to be famous for their strong ability to revive after the crisis, but at this time, what they need most is alertness. Not only to revive Florian Wirtz, Liverpool must also save themselves from a season of steep decline. For Arne Slot, this is the first stage he has faced the real pressure in the Premier League. The Dutch strategist's answer will determine Liverpool's goals for this season.
