Scholes highlights Wirtz’s undeniable quality in Slot’s evolving Liverpool side
Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has praised Florian Wirtz following Liverpool’s emphatic 5-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League. While the result showcased Arne Slot’s growing influence on his squad, the performance of Wirtz provided another layer of intrigue – a glimpse of the quality that has quickly made the German playmaker indispensable.
Wirtz’s quality sparks tactical evolution
The 22-year-old’s vision, precision, and ability to dictate the tempo of play were all on full display in Frankfurt, where his creativity underpinned Liverpool’s dominant showing. For many observers, this was the match that confirmed what the club’s scouts had long believed – that Wirtz possesses the kind of quality capable of reshaping a team’s attacking identity.
Speaking on The Overlap, Scholes reflected on the midfielder’s growing impact: “I think they should find a way to fit him in the team because I think he’s that good.” It’s a rare endorsement from a figure known for his understated analysis, and one that captures the challenge facing Slot – how to balance a fluid, attacking structure around a player who thrives on freedom and risk.
Creative numbers that justify the investment
The statistics reinforce Scholes’s point. Against Frankfurt, Wirtz registered two assists – one for Cody Gakpo and another for Dominik Szoboszlai – both crafted through incisive passing and intelligent movement. His influence went beyond numbers, dictating where Liverpool’s attacks originated and how they developed.
It’s the continuation of a pattern seen during his final season at Bayer Leverkusen, where Wirtz amassed 16 goals and 15 assists in the Bundesliga. That level of consistent output made him one of Europe’s most sought-after young midfielders and ultimately persuaded Liverpool’s hierarchy to sanction a deal that reflected both his current impact and future potential.
Slot’s system adapting to Wirtz’s strengths
Slot’s tactical setup in Germany demonstrated a clear intent to maximise his side’s attacking potential. By allowing Wirtz to roam between the lines and pull defenders out of position, Liverpool created overloads that Frankfurt struggled to contain. The trade-off, as Scholes observed, lies in how this approach exposes the full-backs – a calculated risk designed to amplify creativity rather than limit it.
Football analyst Guillem Balague described Liverpool’s evolving style as taking a “completely different direction”, a nod to Slot’s willingness to deviate from rigid positional systems in favour of flexibility and controlled chaos. Wirtz sits at the heart of that transformation, orchestrating attacks while linking the midfield to the forward line with effortless timing.
Competition driving further improvement
The emergence of attacking depth has further enhanced the environment around Wirtz. Hugo Ekitike’s sharpness and Alexander Isak’s recovery from injury have added options in the final third, pushing standards higher and offering Slot a variety of configurations to maintain intensity across multiple competitions.
As Liverpool continue to adjust to their manager’s demands, the chemistry between Wirtz and the front line could define their season. His understanding with Gakpo and Szoboszlai, already evident in Europe, suggests a growing fluency that could translate domestically.
For Scholes, the conclusion is straightforward: players of Wirtz’s quality don’t adapt to systems – systems adapt to them. If Slot can find the balance between structure and spontaneity, Liverpool’s latest creative force might just become the defining figure of this new era.
