Steven Gerrard has thrown his support behind Florian Wirtz, confident that the young German can still emerge as an important figure for Liverpool. The club's legendary former captain believes Wirtz's early struggles this season can be attributed not only to his dip in form and dwindling confidence but also to a misalignment in his position.
Wirtz made a splash in the summer of 2025 when he transferred from Bayer Leverkusen for a hefty £107 million. However, he has yet to replicate his impressive form from Germany at Anfield, having scored five goals in his debut Premier League season but failing to find the net in his first seven outings of the current campaign.
Gerrard argues that deploying Wirtz on the flanks is misjudged.
He said:
His best position is as a No. 10. I don’t think he has the pace for a wide role.
And I’m not convinced that the current Liverpool side is fully equipped to get the best out of him.
The former midfielder highlighted that the performance of Wirtz’s attacking partners will also be crucial to his success.
If Barcola, Isak, Munoz, Rio, and Ekitike are fit and consistently performing, it will make life much easier for Wirtz.
He’ll have more movement ahead of him, more passing options, and better quality around him.
Gerrard also acknowledged that Wirtz is currently not playing to his full potential.
His confidence has taken a hit. He is simply not performing well enough.
In that respect, I agree with Jamie Carragher.
Yet, Gerrard urged everyone not to scapegoat the talented midfielder as the primary cause of the team’s troubles.
He needs support from the coach and experienced players.
In my view, he is an immensely talented footballer.
Now, the onus is on Andoni Iraola to find Wirtz a role that allows him to receive the ball between the lines and make an impact closer to the penalty area.
If Liverpool can enhance their attacking cohesion and help restore Wirtz’s confidence, Gerrard anticipates that his level will significantly improve as the season unfolds.
