Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy believes Florian Wirtz has failed to improve this season and is now in danger of being dropped from the side.
Wirtz has two goals and five assists in 15 appearances for the Reds this campaign and netted in his most recent outing for Andoni Iraola's side, the 3-1 Premier League win at Crystal Palace last Sunday.
The 23-year-old attacking midfielder followed that with a goal for Germany in their UEFA Nations League triumph in Serbia on Friday night.
Murphy's verdict on Wirtz
But Murphy is adamant Wirtz has not kicked on this term after a difficult first season at Anfield since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2025 in a deal that could ultimately be worth £116million.
“I felt like many Liverpool fans that this second season, after a summer away and also just understanding the Premier League after the first season, that we would see a big improvement,” said the ex-Reds man. “And we haven’t really, if I have to be brutally honest.
“I feel for him because I don’t see a player who’s not trying. I just see him being unable to adapt physically at times, and he’s trying to press, he’s trying to do the work without the ball, but it’s not really natural to him, and he’s not particularly strong.
Comparison with Szoboszlai
“If you compare him and (Dominik) Szoboszlai in that role, the press and the intensity that Szoboszlai brings is very different.
“Ultimately that wouldn’t matter as much if he was winning games, and making things happen continually. Now, the question is are his levels of performance acceptable enough to warrant a place? Well, no, in some ways they’re not, but I understand the manager giving him the platform and the time to let him try and progress into what we know he can be.”
Murphy played in a similar position to Wirtz during his time at Liverpool having made the leap from the lower leagues with Crewe Alexandra almost 30 years ago.
Adaptation and future prospects
And the now pundit, speaking to Wettbasis, said: "When I first went to Liverpool, it took me a couple of seasons to adapt to the physical needs and expectations of being at such a big club so I do empathise.
“There comes a time where Liverpool’s results, and position in the league and where they are in the Champions League, is going to force the manager’s hand in terms of changing personnel, and that can be anybody. Not just Wirtz.
“I would say at the moment, the Liverpool supporters are kind of on the fence. There’s a lot of people who are still supporting him, but there are also a lot who are saying that it’s time for a change, especially in the bigger games like the City game and the Arsenal game.
“Now maybe the goal at Palace will do his confidence good and we’re going to see a rise in level in performances. We’ll have to wait and see, but at the moment he’s not doing enough.”
