Florian Wirtz finally delivered the performance Liverpool fans and perhaps even some of his harshest critics had been waiting for. In Wednesday’s 5-1 rout of Eintracht Frankfurt at Deutsche Bank Park, the 22-year-old German was at the centre of a dynamic, fluid Liverpool attack, registering two assists and reminding everyone of the qualities that prompted the Reds to spend a club-record £116m on him this summer.
Since his summer move from Bayer Leverkusen, Wirtz has endured scrutiny from every corner. The German international failed to register a single goal or assist in the Premier League during his opening eight appearances, leaving sections of the fanbase and rival supporters questioning whether Liverpool had overpaid for a player still finding his feet in England. Yet those within the Liverpool camp have long been aware of Wirtz’s talent, and Wednesday offered a glimpse of what he can deliver when given the freedom to express himself.
Curtis Jones, who has forged a strong on-field understanding with Wirtz since pre-season, was full of praise in his post-match comments.
“I say all the time on Flo, he’s one of those lads that if you don’t think he’s good, you don’t understand the game,” Jones told LFCTV.
“Obviously he’s been bought for a huge price-tag, that’s not his fault, and everybody expects goals and assists. We do as well obviously, but in terms of what he brings into the team, where he goes and moves, he might not actually get on the ball, but it helps me and Dom [Szoboszlai]. As he moves a lad has to stay with Flo and it means that I’m free and that’s just the smart thing of how he plays.It’s a matter of time before he gets his goals and assists, you saw there he just got two and I told him just carry on. From the first day you could see he had that spark. The Premier League as well, of course it’s a huge change as well but he’s a smart lad, intelligent lad, technically he’s unbelievable as well, so it’s a matter of time before everybody sees the real Flo. We see it every day when he trains, I can’t wait until everybody really, really sees him. It’s exciting times for us and the whole team.”
Wirtz’s performance highlighted just how transformative a positional shift can be. Arne Slot, building on lessons from the weekend defeat to Manchester United, deployed the German in a free-roaming right-wing role instead of the struggling Mohamed Salah.
This gave Wirtz space to drift across the pitch, pull defenders out of position, and link with the central strike partnership of Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak. His movement created space for Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai, while also allowing Liverpool to play with a fluid attacking rhythm that had been missing in recent matches.
Opta’s heat map data confirmed the effectiveness of Wirtz’s positioning. He was virtually everywhere on the pitch, consistently influencing play, dictating tempo, and making intelligent runs that opened opportunities for teammates. For the first time since his move to Anfield, Wirtz looked comfortable in, blending his technical quality with tactical awareness a combination that has so far been glimpsed only sporadically.
Liverpool’s 5-1 victory was about more than just Wirtz. The game saw Ekitike and Isak’s forward partnership shine before Isak’s half-time withdrawal, while van Dijk and Konaté dominated the box on set pieces. Dominik Szoboszlai orchestrated midfield with precision, and Curtis Jones’s movement offered balance and creativity. Yet Wirtz’s influence was the defining factor. His two assists one perfectly weighted pass to Gakpo, followed by a second shortly after illustrated the attacking intelligence he brings, something Liverpool’s rivals have yet to fully appreciate.
Jones highlighted the importance of the partnership on and off the ball. Their pre-season link-ups have clearly rekindled in competitive matches, offering Liverpool a promising combination in an otherwise inconsistent season.
“Having Flo in the team makes a huge difference,” Jones added. “We’ve seen glimpses before, but now he’s starting to show it on the big stage. Hopefully he can build on this going forward.”
Slot’s tactical reshuffle demonstrates that the manager is willing to experiment to unlock Wirtz’s potential. The 4-2-2-2 system allowed Liverpool to attack with freedom while maintaining balance, giving Wirtz license to roam and influence the game. His freedom created pockets of space for Ekitike and Isak, and his intelligent movement pulled defenders out of position, enabling Gakpo and Szoboszlai to exploit the gaps. It was a system that maximised his strengths technical ability, vision, and creativity while giving Liverpool a new dimension in attack.
Although Wednesday night was a cause for celebration, there remain questions to be answered. Wirtz’s Premier League form still requires improvement he has yet to open his goal scoring account in the league. Mohamed Salah continues to pose selection dilemmas, and injuries to key players such as Isak temper the optimism. Nevertheless, Wirtz’s display provided a glimpse of what Liverpool can achieve when tactical flexibility, technical quality, and player confidence intersect.
As Liverpool prepare for Saturday’s Premier League clash with Brentford, it would be surprising to see Wirtz omitted. The German, alongside Jones, offers a partnership capable of unlocking defences and creating the attacking fluency the Reds desperately need. The challenge now is consistency if Wirtz can maintain this level, Liverpool may finally begin to see a return on one of their most expensive signings in history.
