Liverpool’s season has been nothing short of lacklustre, with the reigning champions sitting in 8th place following a run of poor form.
Recent £120 million signing Florian Wirtz has been at the heart of criticism for his lack of output on the domestic stage.
In 16 games for Liverpool this season, Wirtz has only managed three assists for the Reds, with no goals to date.
However, in 2025, Wirtz has averaged one goal contribution per 90 for Germany, in the UEFA Nations League.
He has carried his international form onwards to the World Cup Qualifiers, with three g/a in six games.
World class performances against Slovakia, and northern Ireland solidified the 22 year-old as one of Germany’s key players.
According to Liverpool’s own analysis, Wirtz is still a very creative asset. However, critics have noticed a massive drop in his dribbling volume compared to his last season at Bayer Leverkusen.
Most notably, Wirtz was only one of the two players in Europe’s top 5 leagues to achieve double digits in both goals and assists, alongside to be team-mate, Mohammed Salah.
Like Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike made the switch from the Bundesliga to English top flight football after Liverpool outbid Newcastle to bring in the Frankfurt youngster for £79 million.
Ekitikes start to English football has been much more successful, so far achieving 7 g/a in 16 appearances.
Many analysts are impressed with what they have seen so far, with CBS pundit and former Arsenal and Barcelona footballer, Thierry Henry comparing Ekitike to himself at that age.
However, this is not the first time a rising Bundesliga star has fancied their chances at Premier League football.
Kai Havertz joined Chelsea in September 2020, after an impressive breakthrough season at Bayer Leverkusen. However, his first season did not quite meet that £70 million price tag.
Havertz only managed five goals in his first season, albeit a Champions League Final winner – admiration from fans faded quickly after and he eventually joined London rivals Arsenal.
Timo Werner joined Chelsea in June 2020, following a spectacular season at RB Leipzing, with 36 g/a in 34 appearances.
He received criticism from Chelsea fans for poor finishing, with 18 big chances missed in his first season, according to StatMuse.
Eventually Chelsea sold Werner back to his former club, for half of what they originally paid.
Former Liverpool winger Luis Diaz left English Football to Join Bayern Munchen, telling team-mates about his feelings towards his introduction to German top-flight football.
He said: “The intensity feels softer, the rhythm slower and the spaces wider than anything he ever experienced in England.”
Florian Wirtz is undoubtably a world class player, who simply needs time to adapt to a new country and system. However the physicality of the Premier League appears to be an issue, for Wirtz.
Wirtz missed the last Premier League game against Nottingham Forest, but is due back as The Reds travel to the capital, to face West Ham.
