Florian Wirtz: Assessing the £116m Liverpool star’s display in the 2-0 victory over West Ham
Liverpool may have claimed a 2-0 win over West Ham on Sunday, but the champions still showed signs of fragility throughout the contest. The opening 45 minutes at the London Stadium were sluggish from both sides, yet Florian Wirtz still attempted to rise above the criticism and inject some urgency, as goals from Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo secured Arne Slot his first league victory in four matches.
The £116 million summer signing has been under intense scrutiny since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen, with many arguing he has struggled to adapt to the speed and physicality of the Premier League. After failing to produce a single assist in 12 league outings, he quickly became a headline name in lists of disappointing transfers.
He isn’t alone in facing pressure, with fellow new arrivals Milos Kerkez and record signing Isak also experiencing difficult spells. But unlike others, Wirtz has consistently shown flashes of the talent that made him such a coveted acquisition, and many felt his latest performance offered further proof that the criticism has been disproportionate. His display suggested Liverpool have a highly skilled creator who is beginning to settle.
Wirtz’s Display Against West Ham
Jamie Carragher hailed Wirtz’s first-half showing on Sky Sports, calling it the best 45 minutes the midfielder has produced for Liverpool. He successfully completed 28 of 29 passes before the break, and his influence grew as the game went on.
His standout moment came when he threaded the decisive ball that allowed Gakpo to tee up Isak for his first league goal of the campaign. But that was just part of an all-round impressive outing: Wirtz completed 95% of his passes, created four big chances, played one key pass, and even tested the keeper himself.
Known for his work rate, he again demonstrated his defensive contribution—mirroring the effort that saw him cover more ground than any player in Liverpool’s recent win over Real Madrid. Operating in Mohamed Salah’s wide role, he made three recoveries, won three of five ground duels, and chipped in with a clearance.
What Liverpool Fans Are Saying
Liverpool supporters were quick to argue that Wirtz is far from the reason his assist tally remains empty. Many pointed out that he is consistently creating opportunities, only for teammates to waste them.
One fan wrote:
“Surrounded by some hapless players, Wirtz has been brilliant so far. Such an intelligent footballer.”
While Isak’s finish showed promise, fans stressed that Liverpool’s forwards need to be more ruthless for Wirtz to truly shine.
Another added:
“With in-form players around him, Wirtz would look like a completely different player. He’s been excellent today and everyone else looks like they’re in a charity match.”
A third remarked:
“You can see why he has zero assists this season—look at what he’s working with up top.”
And a fourth supporter summed up the mood:
“That’s the closest we’ve seen to the real Florian Wirtz at Liverpool.”
The reaction makes one thing clear: rather than being a scapegoat for Liverpool’s shaky title defence, Wirtz is increasingly being viewed as one of the few players trying to push the team forward.
