Florian Wirtz Frustration Grows as Liverpool Search for Greater Influence

Florian Wirtz remains one of Liverpool’s most intriguing players under Andoni Iraola. There are flashes of outstanding quality, considerable work without the ball and an obvious desire to influence games. There are also moments when the execution falls short.

Liverpool’s 0-0 draw with Fulham provided another example.

Speaking to Dave Davis on Anfield Index’s Media Matters podcast, David Lynch offered a measured assessment of Wirtz’s recent performances, acknowledging the quality Liverpool possess while identifying areas where the German must improve.

“I think he’s a wonderful footballer,” Lynch said. “There’s been moments this season where you’re watching and you’re like, oh, that is unbelievable what he’s doing. But there have also been moments of real frustration.”

That frustration was evident against Fulham.

Wirtz Work Rate Cannot Be Questioned

One statistic stood out from Liverpool’s performance. As Davis highlighted, Wirtz covered 12.4 kilometres, more than any other Liverpool player.

There was context behind that number.

With Liverpool’s press lacking coordination and the midfield struggling, Davis felt Wirtz was attempting to “plug holes and try and do his job”.

Lynch also highlighted how much movement Wirtz produces when Liverpool have possession.

“He does a lot of kind of side to side to try and make himself a free man, which probably helps clock up a few kilometres for him,” Lynch explained. “He is also a hard worker.”

The question is whether that workload is affecting Wirtz when Liverpool finally find him.

“I wonder whether the amount of distance he’s covered at times is kind of taken away from his freshness when he gets on the ball,” Lynch said.

Quality on Ball Must Improve

Work rate alone will never define the expectations surrounding Wirtz at Liverpool.

There were moments against Fulham when simple passes went astray, an issue Davis raised during the podcast.

Lynch agreed that Wirtz must offer greater precision.

“We just see some real slackness from him at times, albeit that’s been a little bit of a habit of his since he’s come in,” he said.

“I would just like him to just show that little bit more class at times and real care for the ball in the final third.”

There is responsibility on Wirtz himself.

“You can’t always make excuses for him,” Lynch added. “He does have to kind of get better.”

That assessment came with important context. Lynch did not believe Wirtz was individually responsible for Liverpool’s poor performance.

“I don’t think everybody was great on Saturday and he let the side down at all. So, you know, it’s a collective responsibility as well.”

Liverpool Midfield Must Find Wirtz More Often

Perhaps the most important part of the discussion concerned what happens behind Wirtz.

Liverpool’s double pivot of Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch struggled against Fulham. Lynch felt their problems in possession were particularly damaging because Liverpool were failing to progress the ball into Wirtz consistently.

There was one moment when Szoboszlai played through the lines and found him centrally. Lynch wants to see that repeatedly.

“Szoboszlai should be finding Wirtz in the ten, and Gravenberch should be doing the same, the same with Mac Allister when he’s playing,” he said.

“They should be finding him in the ten, ten, fifteen times a game. That needs to be happening more frequently, really.”

Instead, Liverpool’s midfield became cautious.

“They’re too safe and they’re too scared to kind of play through the lines in case they turn it over,” Lynch explained.

For a player operating as Liverpool’s number ten, that inevitably creates problems.

Iraola Needs to Unlock Wirtz

Wirtz still has work to do himself. Lynch acknowledged that even when the German received possession against Fulham, his performance was below the required standard.

“As much as Wirtz I didn’t think played well even when he got the ball, I still think it’s going to be a problem for him that he can’t consistently get it.”

That distinction feels important when assessing his recent performances.

Wirtz must become cleaner and more decisive when opportunities arrive. Liverpool must also create an environment in which their number ten receives possession regularly in the areas where he can influence games.

For Lynch, definitive judgements can wait.

“I don’t want to make any final judgments about anything in this team really, because it is just so early,” he said.

“Wirtz is the same really.”

Liverpool know the talent they have. Now Iraola must establish how to connect that talent with the rest of his team.