INSIDE ARNE SLOT’S TACTICAL SYSTEM AND ITS IMPACT ON FLORIAN WIRTZ’S GOAL OUTPUT
Florian Wirtz has scored just four times in 25 league games, a major drop from his elite Bayer Leverkusen scoring form.
Florian Wirtz’s £116 million price tag is starting to raise some eyebrows, especially as he struggles to find the scoring touch that made him so valuable. Tony Cascarino from talkSPORT pointed out that while Wirtz is undeniably technically gifted, he’s yet to become truly clinical in front of goal since joining Liverpool.
Wirtz, who moved from Bayer Leverkusen to Anfield with big expectations, took a bit of time to adjust but began contributing to Arne Slot’s team. Yet goals have remained elusive. In 25 Premier League appearances, he’s only managed to score four times, with just one goal each in the Champions League and FA Cup. Recent missed opportunities against Galatasaray, which coincided with Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat, only highlight this ongoing challenge.
Cascarino, a former Chelsea striker and long-time Reds fan, commented on the Weekend Sports Breakfast that Wirtz’s inability to take those chances stands out. He recalled Wirtz’s decent scoring record at Leverkusen, particularly during a season when the club contended for the Bundesliga title, but said those numbers haven’t yet translated to his time in England.
Back when Wirtz was at Bayer Leverkusen, he was more consistent as both a goalscorer and playmaker. Over his last two seasons there, he not only reached double figures in goals but also in assists. For instance, in the 2023/24 season, he scored 11 goals and provided 12 assists, followed by 10 goals and 13 assists the following year. At Liverpool, however, the numbers look quite different. Four goals in 25 league matches is a noticeable drop, even accounting for the Premier League’s markedly higher level of competition. Despite having 24 shots with 15 on target this season, he’s yet to convert those chances into more goals.
Looking ahead, Wirtz will be eager to improve his goal tally in Liverpool’s upcoming match against Tottenham at Anfield. With Igor Tudor’s position at Spurs seemingly under pressure, a strong showing from Wirtz could have a significant impact. The game, scheduled for 4:30 pm on Merseyside, offers him an opportunity not only to build confidence but also, perhaps, to silence some critics questioning whether he can justify that hefty transfer fee.
LIVERPOOL WARNED TO OFFER CURTIS JONES NEW CONTRACT BEFORE 14-MONTH DEADLINE
Analysis: Curtis Jones’ elite passing stats and why Jermaine Pennant believes Liverpool cannot afford to lose the versatile midfielder.
Liverpool really needs to sort out a new contract for Curtis Jones before they make the same mistake it did with Luis Diaz. That’s what the Inside Liverpool panel thinks, especially now that Diaz is lighting up Bayern Munich and making Liverpool’s transfer moves look pretty questionable.
Bayern’s front three, with Diaz in the mix, have racked up 100 goals across all competitions this season – the first time any non-Spanish team has done that. Diaz himself has bagged 26 goals in 46 matches and just scored against PSG in the Champions League semi-final.
Looking back, Liverpool probably wish they hadn’t let Diaz walk for £65 million last summer. Since then, fans at Anfield haven’t seen anyone who brings what he did: that relentless pressing, always looming as a threat on the counter. Sure, they’ve brought in Rio Ngumoha, a teenager, just 17, but Arne Slot, the coach, knows you can’t just expect him to fill those shoes right away.
On talkSPORT’s Inside Liverpool, Jermaine Pennant, who has played for the club, said that Liverpool has to bring in another proven attacker over the summer. Pennant’s point: Diaz was great whether he played in the middle or on the left, and Liverpool needs someone with that kind of flexibility. You don’t want to sign a backup like Hugo Ekitike and then end up overcrowding with too many strikers when the main guy returns.
Now, Jones could end up in the same boat this summer. There’s a lot of uncertainty around his future, and when you look at the numbers, he’s only got 14 months left on his contract. Several clubs in England and Europe are watching, and he’s only started 15 games for Liverpool this season.
Even though he hasn’t played much, Jones is impressing; he’s second only to Rodri in midfielder passes per 90 minutes in the Premier League. He’s also ranked second behind Moises Caicedo for passing accuracy, and right behind Rayan Cherki for carries. Pennant said the club can’t afford to let him go: Jones is so versatile; you can play him anywhere in midfield or even right back. He knows the club, loves it, and helps connect the squad.
Jones has been one of the top performers recently. Pennant thinks Liverpool should offer him a new deal, especially since the squad is thinning out and they’ve already lost Trent Alexander-Arnold. In the end, it’s up to Jones if he wants to stay or move for more game time, but Liverpool has to make the offer while they still can.
VIRGIL VAN DIJK SLAMS LIVERPOOL’S SEASON, INSISTING CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFICATION IS NOT ENOUGH
Liverpool chase Champions League football, but Virgil van Dijk insists qualification is not success. We track the upcoming summer rebuild.
Liverpool caught a bit of luck over the weekend with their hopes for Champions League football, but Virgil van Dijk made it clear he doesn’t think qualifying should be the measure of their success.
Everyone at the club knows how crucial it is to get back into Europe’s top competition. It’s not just about pride. Missing out means less money, which would hurt their plans in the summer.
Finishing in the top five might look good after a disappointing season, especially since they were defending Premier League champions, but Van Dijk doesn’t believe that’s enough. He said the team can’t settle for just scraping into the Champions League.
“We’ve got five more games, and we have to get Champions League qualification done,” Van Dijk said. “But honestly, that’s not the standard I expect at Liverpool. Qualifying isn’t enough.”
Their win over Everton in the Merseyside derby snapped a rotten streak of four losses out of five, including getting knocked out of the FA Cup and Champions League. At one point, it felt like the whole season was going downhill fast.
Now, Crystal Palace are coming up on Saturday. Palace is focused on their UEFA Conference League semi-final, so this is a big chance for Liverpool, especially with Manchester United away the following week.
Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah scored at Everton, but things are changing. Van Dijk turns 35 in July and is about to start his last year on contract. Salah and Andy Robertson are leaving in the summer. That’s a lot of experience walking out the door.
The club will have to find replacements from the current squad. A new vice-captain is named over the summer. Van Dijk wouldn’t reveal his pick but said, “I definitely have my opinion, and I always share it.”
He called for players to step up. “You grow into that role, or you already have it in you. It’s time for players to show it next season.”
He added, “After the World Cup, during pre-season, the manager will decide. We just need to get this right and make sure we don’t have a repeat of this season.”
When asked about whether the squad needs a reset, Van Dijk said, “You’d have to ask the guys higher up. Leadership is falling away as players leave, so others have to step up and see what the decision-makers plan to do. I’m confident everyone wants the club to stay competitive. We just can’t have another season like this one.”
Must Read
