Why Liverpool want Florian Wirtz

By DK01__

When Florian Wirtz burst onto the Bundesliga scene in 2020, few doubted his potential. But as of May 2025, the 22-year-old attacking midfielder is no longer a promising talent—he is a bonafide superstar. After back-to-back elite seasons with Bayer Leverkusen, including a historic 2023-24 Bundesliga title and a 2024-25 campaign that solidified his standing as one of Europe’s best playmakers, Wirtz is firmly on Liverpool’s radar.

The Premier League champions have made contact with the player’s representatives to explore a deal should he opt to leave Leverkusen. With Bayern Munich and Manchester City also circling, the Reds face stiff competition.

How does he fit in Slot’s Liverpool?

Arne Slot’s Liverpool are not just a tactical evolution from Jurgen Klopp’s tenure—they’re a reimagined entity built on flexibility, layered movement, and control through structure. Whether it’s a 4-3-3 or Slot’s go-to 4-2-3-1, one thing stays the same—players are always rotating and swapping roles to keep the opposition guessing. But even in a fluid system, there has to be a focal point—and that’s where Wirtz comes in. He’s not just part of the machine; he’s the one it revolves around.

In the 4-2-3-1, Wirtz would slot into the No.10. His role? To be the heartbeat of the attack—the one who finds space in crowded areas and keeps the tempo ticking when the game needs control. Wirtz ranks in the 99th percentile for through balls and the 94th percentile for progressive passes. Slot’s Liverpool often face teams that retreat into low blocks, especially at Anfield. These compact defences are structured to kill rhythm and funnel play into wide areas. Wirtz’s passing, however, is designed to collapse these shapes from the inside.

Slot showed glimpses of tactical boldness in the 2-0 win at the Etihad, where he used a double-10 structure to pull apart City’s midfield shape. Jones and Szoboszlai occupied the half-spaces. Imagine Wirtz replacing Jones in that system. Suddenly, that left-sided role becomes a weapon, not a rotation. This is where Wirtz’s Leverkusen experience shines through. He already thrived in the left half-space in Alonso’s 3-4-2-1, operating just behind the striker and combining intricately with wing-back Alejandro Grimaldo. Liverpool are reportedly pursuing Milos Kerkez, a similarly dynamic left-back with aggressive overlaps. Slot could replicate that synergy immediately—Wirtz drifting into the channel, drawing defenders, and releasing Kerkez.

Dominik Szoboszlai brings a lot of energy to Liverpool’s midfield—he’s direct, powerful on the ball, loves driving forward, and isn’t afraid to have a go from distance. But while he brings that explosive edge, he doesn’t quite have the same finesse as Wirtz in tight areas. That’s where the two could really complement each other if Slot opts for a double 10. Szoboszlai pushes the game forward, charging into space and breaking lines with his runs, while Wirtz operates more subtly—slowing things down, picking clever passes, and controlling the tempo between the lines. Together, they could give Liverpool a midfield balance they haven’t really had since the days of Coutinho and Firmino, when two creative players would constantly rotate and link play in the final third. It’s Wirtz’s blend of forward drive and calm control that helps stretch and shift deep defences. He offers both the killer pass and the patience to find it.

With Liverpool’s current options, Szoboszlai works at pace and excels in broken play. Mac Allister dictates rhythm from deeper zones. Curtis Jones offers intelligent occupation of space and secure recycling—but lacks incision. None combine the subtlety, decision-making, and final-third output that Wirtz offers. Against deep blocks, he provides not just tools—but solutions. He probes, pauses, waits for the trap to spring, then delivers. And crucially, he is also press-resistant in a way that makes Liverpool less vulnerable in transition. With 61.86 passes received per 90 (99th percentile) and one of the highest success rates for receiving under pressure in the league, Wirtz can act as Liverpool’s release valve when squeezed. If Liverpool want to move from a team that wins on rhythm to one that wins on control, Florian Wirtz may be the answer.

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Dribbling and Press Resistance

Wirtz is among the elite when it comes to dribbling in central zones. Averaging 3.23 dribbles per 90 minutes (99th percentile), he is not just prolific — he is strategic. His dribbles aren’t flashy for flair’s sake; they are functional, progressive, and often destabilise compact defensive shapes. Operating primarily in the left half-space, Wirtz excels in congested areas.

Wirtz has a special talent for drawing defenders in and then wriggling out of pressure. His low centre of gravity, sharp bursts of speed, and control with both feet make him incredibly slippery in tight spaces. He doesn’t need much room to operate—just a little pocket, a quick shift of the hips, and suddenly he’s spun away or threaded a clever pass through the lines. That kind of press-resistance is gold against deep, compact defences—exactly the kind Liverpool often come up against. When Wirtz receives the ball with his back to goal, he always knows what’s around him. He can absorb contact, link up with a teammate, or play a disguised through ball that cuts defences open. He brings a calmness in chaotic moments, constantly unpredictable but always in control. For a Liverpool side that can sometimes look short of ideas against low blocks, Wirtz could be the creative spark who turns frustration into breakthroughs.

Passing and Vision

Wirtz is not merely a carrier — he’s an elite distributor. Averaging over 60 passes per match with an 82% completion rate, he ranks in the 99th percentile for both live-ball passes and through balls. But it is the type and context of his passes that elevate his game beyond the numbers. Wirtz is at his best when things get congested. He’s totally comfortable operating in busy areas of the pitch, where most players might panic or play it safe. What makes him different is how he stays calm under pressure—he’s already scanning for runners before the ball even reaches him. That awareness lets him play quick, incisive passes the moment he gets it, often threading the ball through tight gaps or setting up a teammate’s run in perfect stride. It’s this ability to think a step ahead that makes him such a valuable asset in the final third, especially against teams that sit deep and crowd the middle. He frequently disguises his intentions, using body feints and no-look passes to shift defenders before slipping in a teammate.

Arne Slot’s system thrives on quick, vertical play and smart third-man combinations—and that’s exactly the kind of environment Florian Wirtz comes alive in. Wirtz loves receiving in the inside-left channel, where he can quickly thread vertical passes into runners or link up with a teammate before darting into the next space. It’s in these quick-fire exchanges that he really shows his quality—playing between the lines, spotting movement early, and keeping Liverpool’s attacks flowing with real purpose. His presence would add a whole new layer of sharpness to Slot’s transitions, giving Liverpool both control and cutting edge.

Florian Wirtz’s brilliance lies not just in what he does on the ball, but in how and where he gets it. Few players in Europe are as adept at consistently receiving the ball in advanced, high-value zones—just outside or between defensive lines—where he can turn and immediately influence the final third. His positioning sense allows him to float into those dangerous pockets that others ignore or are too rushed to find. That’s what makes him such an elite receiver of progressive passes: he doesn’t just move to get the ball, he moves to manipulate the shape of the opposition. Once in possession, Wirtz rarely wastes touches—he’s instantly scanning for disguised passes, subtle combinations, or small overloads to create a shot. For Liverpool, especially under Arne Slot’s system of fluid positional play and central overloads, this would be invaluable. Wirtz wouldn’t just be another creative midfielder—he’d be the one consistently finding the gaps before they’re visible, giving Liverpool a new level of control and incision in the final third.

Composure and Finishing

Where many attacking midfielders resort to speculative shooting, Wirtz is clinical and intelligent. With 10 goals from 50 shots in the Bundesliga this season, he holds a 20% shot conversion rate and 70% accuracy, both metrics putting him in the league’s upper echelons. His finishes reflect his personality: calm, composed, and deliberate. He favours finesse over power, often side-footing into corners or using subtle chips when facing a rushing goalkeeper. His ability to delay the shot — to bait the defender or keeper into committing — is a sign of elite footballing IQ.Beyond his shooting technique, it is his movement into scoring positions that stands out. Wirtz frequently arrives into the box late, often ghosting in unnoticed. These runs add a goal-scoring threat from midfield that Liverpool have missed since the days of Philippe Coutinho.

Movement and Finding Space

Florian Wirtz is a bit of a magician when it comes to finding space. He doesn’t just wait for the ball—he moves in ways that pull defenders out of position and create openings for his teammates. You’ll often see him drifting in from the left side into central areas, forcing defenders to follow him and leaving space behind for overlapping full-backs or runners from midfield. What sets Wirtz apart is how smooth and smart his movement is. He’s constantly scanning the pitch, always adjusting to stay free and give himself the best angles to receive a pass. And it’s not just one quick move—he’ll check in for the ball, lay it off, then spin into a new pocket all in one fluid motion. In the final third, he loves to fake coming short before darting in behind, which really unsettles defensive lines. It’s these little details that make him so dangerous and why he could be such a game-changer in a team like Liverpool.

He ranked among the top 10 in progressive receptions in the Bundesliga, which speaks to his knack for receiving in zones that matter. For Liverpool, who often rely on aggressive width and structured possession, Wirtz’s off-the-ball movement is almost ghost-like—he drifts into spaces so naturally that defenders often lose track of him until it’s too late. But it’s not just movement for the sake of getting free. His runs are designed to manipulate the opposition—pulling defenders out of shape, dragging them into uncomfortable areas, and creating gaps for others to exploit. On the left, his roaming would perfectly complement the overlaps of Kerkez or Robertson, while on the right, Szoboszlai’s direct, vertical drives would benefit from the space Wirtz helps to carve out. He attracts pressure, then slips away, leaving holes in the structure.

Where He Improves Liverpool

Since the departure of Philippe Coutinho, Liverpool have lacked a central figure capable of unlocking compact defences with guile and subtlety. Wirtz thrives in tight pockets, receiving between the lines and executing disguised passes under pressure. His press resistance allows him to be the release valve when Liverpool are pressed high or struggling to penetrate a mid-block.

Few players his age understand game flow like Wirtz. In positional attacks, Wirtz’s movement into the left half-space creates a triangle with the left-back and left-sided No.8. With a full-back like Milos Kerkez overlapping and a player like Mac Allister anchoring, Wirtz could drift infield to occupy central defenders or wide to drag full-backs, creating space for runners. His sharp passing vision—particularly his ability to spot underlapping or diagonal movements—would help Liverpool unpick the crowded final third.Wirtz also adds real quality in transition. When Liverpool win the ball back and look to break, he’s already finding space behind the press. His movement creates overloads, and he can either drive forward or slip in a runner.

Crucially, Wirtz contributes defensively as well. He may not dominate with physicality, but he presses with intelligence and structure. What makes him special isn’t just effort—it’s his anticipation. He understands angles, timings, and triggers. Instead of blindly chasing, he curves his pressing runs to block passing lanes or force the opponent into blind spots. Wirtz fits perfectly into Slot’s organised pressing style, which is all about smart positioning and forcing mistakes, not just chaos. He would help fix one of Liverpool’s biggest issues—lacking creativity through the middle.

Final Thoughts

Liverpool under Slot are building something dynamic. In Florian Wirtz, they could add the missing piece: a player who can slow the game down when needed, speed it up on command, and decide matches through moments of pure invention. For Liverpool fans, the thought alone is worth dreaming about.

And for the Premier League? It may well be about to welcome its next great No.10.