Jointly, Florian Wirtz had perhaps his most mesmerizing performance for Liverpool as they took apart West Ham United. His play was instrumental in the team’s 2-0 Premier League win on Sunday. The young midfielder has garnered attention for his ability to impact the game significantly, with former player Jamie Carragher highlighting Wirtz’s potential to mirror the influence of Premier League legend Kevin De Bruyne.
Wirtz’s role on the left-hand-side of the pitch throughout the game—a position he often filled at Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga—was particularly eye-catching. His performance was a big tipping point. Carragher noted that it was the first time he really established himself as a Liverpool player. Wirtz had quite an impressive fill, completing all 42 of his penetrating passes. This performance was the perfect example of his creation ability on the pitch.
Carragher is convinced that Wirtz will produce his optimal performances. He imagines that coming to fruition when Wirtz is used in the same way De Bruyne had been used at Manchester City. He remarked on the effectiveness of Wirtz in this position, stating, “This is exactly where they want him on the pitch, this is where he’s at his best and that’s why today was his best Liverpool performance so far in the Premier League.”
Wirtz’s heatmap from that game against West Ham illustrated this dramatic change in his overall positioning. This was a significant departure from his performance in previous outings this season. Carragher pointed out how this tactical tweak made it Wirtz’s time to shine. By contrast, his previous appearances on the right hand side of attack have all come when replacing Mo Salah.
The game was the Premier League debut for Alexander Isak, who scored his first Premier League goal for Liverpool at London Stadium. While Wirtz’s performance stood out, it raises questions regarding Dominik Szoboszlai’s position within the team. Szoboszlai has quickly become the most consistent player in Liverpool’s starting XI this season. Regardless, it will be curious to see how Wirtz’s development affects his role going forward.
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