Florian Wirtz's Struggles Should Have Been Expected

Liverpool's big money midfielder has contributed little of note. What's a fair expectation for an import in a much changed team wracked by grief?

Florian Wirtz is struggling to show anything close to his best form. Hugo Ekitike aside, none of Liverpool’s summer recruits have been that convincing so far.

Their issues are understandable. The Reds lost their best passer and their second top scorer (among others) from their Premier League title winning campaign. Even without the emotional turmoil inflicted by the deaths of Diogo Jota and André Silva, the new signings were not added to a perfectly functioning team in full flow. The necessary adjustments will take time.

When you’re competing to win the league, time isn’t a widely available resource. There are too many matches that need to be won, too many results from other contenders to add further pressure. Even so, what’s a reasonable expectation for Wirtz, irrespective of his hefty price tag?

The German delivered 20+ non-penalty goal contributions in each of his last two seasons in the Bundesliga. Wirtz would become just the 10th player from outside the United Kingdom to do this in their age 22 season in the Premier League if he were to reach this benchmark in 2025/26, the first for Liverpool.

As much as a replication of past form feels a reasonable target for a player who cost at least £100m, his level has not been easy for relative youngsters from other countries to achieve in England. Erling Haaland is the only man in the above table who was in his first season in this country.

The 22-year-old Premier League freshman from overseas who came closest to hitting the list is Nicolas Jackson, with 19 non-penalty contributions two seasons ago. Below him we find Javier Hernández and Mohammed Kudus on 14, with Massimo Maccarone and Sadio Mané one further back. Senegal’s young attacking talent clearly prospers in English football.

If Wirtz could, say, score six goals and set up eight, he’d suddenly be in the top five imported Premier League debutants of his age. Dominik Szoboszlai was criticised for his output when making 12 goal contributions in the same position last term, so 14 isn’t an excessive target (current team issues notwithstanding).

A look across all competitions this term shows that luck has been against Wirtz. Ryan Gravenberch has created two Opta-defined big chances, both of which were converted into assists. Liverpool’s new number seven has fashioned four, yet not one has been put on target, much less scored (as you can see here).

Wirtz is so talented that you must believe his fortune will turn for the better. The new-look Reds have yet to gel, or play many routine fixtures. Alexis Mac Allister returning to top form would be an enormous help for the young attacking midfielder stationed in front of him too.

There is one factor entirely beyond Wirtz’s control which may mean he does not succeed this season though. It explains why he is struggling to adapt.