Florian Wirtz Delivers But Remains Liverpool's Conundrum
BBC Sport presents:
Liverpool Come from Behind to Beat Nine-Man Brentford
By Harry Poole, BBC Sport journalist
Published 8 minutes ago
Florian Wirtz was instrumental as Liverpool returned to winning ways in the Premier League at Brentford on Saturday, but does the German playmaker remain boss Andoni Iraola's greatest conundrum?
Wirtz in the Spotlight
Wirtz has faced criticism for his struggles to replicate the form that persuaded Liverpool to pay Bayer Leverkusen a club record £116m in June 2025. Even Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has suggested that the 23-year-old could benefit from a break from the team to overcome a perceived lack of confidence.
The dilemma was evident during Liverpool's encounter with Brentford, where they bounced back from their previous defeat to Manchester City by securing a win with two second-half goals, after Brentford was reduced to ten men before halftime.
Wirtz's Impact
Wirtz dominated the final third, creating nine open-play chances, more than any other player has managed in a Premier League game over the past six seasons. Notably, he equaled Sadio Mane's nine-chance mark against Burnley in January 2021.
Danny Murphy, a BBC Sport pundit and former Liverpool midfielder, raised concerns about Liverpool's midfield setup, arguing that Wirtz's playing style makes the team too predictable.
"They got the job done... but I thought they looked too easy to play against," Murphy said. "The spaces are too big. They're playing with two wingers and Wirtz at 10, so they're relying heavily on the two midfield players to try and cover so much space."
Conundrum Persists
Despite his impressive statistical performance, Wirtz's impact on the team's dynamic continues to be scrutinized. Murphy suggested that Liverpool's midfield setup, featuring Wirtz as the number 10, makes them vulnerable to opposition attacks.
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Key Takeaways:
- Wirtz created nine chances, the most in a Premier League game in six years.
- Liverpool relied heavily on Wirtz's creativity in a midfield with limited cover.
- Concerns remain about the team's defensive structure when Wirtz is in the lineup.
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Next Steps:
- Iraola faces a delicate balance between leveraging Wirtz's creativity and maintaining team balance.
- Liverpool's next game will provide further insight into their approach with Wirtz in the lineup.