Alan Shearer says one of Liverpool’s signings has been ‘really poor’, ‘it’s not working’

Liverpool have entered a strange and difficult moment in their season, and the whole football world is watching closely to see how they respond. After starting the campaign with energy and excitement, Arne Slot’s team have suddenly stumbled, losing back-to-back matches against Crystal Palace in the Premier League and Galatasaray in the Champions League. The defeats have exposed cracks that were always lurking beneath the surface, and now critics are starting to turn their eyes toward some of the club’s biggest summer signings. Among those who have drawn attention is Florian Wirtz, the young German star who cost Liverpool a British-record fee of £116m. The expectations on him were always going to be heavy, but now, after a string of disappointing performances, he finds himself at the center of debate. And no voice is louder in English football than Alan Shearer, who has not held back in his criticism of Wirtz.

Shearer, speaking on his podcast “The Rest Is Football,” described Wirtz’s display against Galatasaray as “really poor again.” Those words hit hard because they came from a legend, a man whose opinion carries authority and respect. Shearer was clear that it wasn’t Wirtz’s fault that Liverpool had paid such an enormous sum for him, but the reality is that the price tag brings with it an unforgiving spotlight. Every touch, every mistake, every missed chance is magnified. When Liverpool fans see £116m spent, they expect immediate magic. They expect goals, assists, brilliance. Instead, what they have seen so far is a talented young man struggling to adapt to the brutal pace and physicality of the Premier League.

The story of Wirtz at Liverpool is still being written, but right now it feels like a tale of frustration. Against Galatasaray, he worked hard, covering more distance than any player on the pitch. His energy and commitment cannot be doubted. But football is about more than running. Fans and pundits are waiting for that spark, that one moment where he changes the game, where he shows why he was considered one of the most exciting players in Europe. Yet in Istanbul, that moment never came. He had 57 touches, but few of them caused any real danger. He attempted three dribbles but succeeded with only one. He entered 12 ground duels and lost two-thirds of them. He had three shots but none found the net. His passing was tidy, 32 out of 39 complete, but it was not decisive. Numbers tell part of the story, but the eye test told the rest: Wirtz was busy, but he was not effective.

This is not what Liverpool paid for. They paid for a game-changer. They paid for the player who dazzled at Bayer Leverkusen, who lit up the Bundesliga with his creativity, his flair, his vision. They paid for the German wonderkid who many compared to legends of the past, who many tipped to be one of the best playmakers in the world. They paid for the man who, alongside Alexander Isak, was supposed to usher in a new golden era for Liverpool under Slot and Hughes. But the Premier League has a way of humbling new arrivals. It is faster, rougher, and more relentless than anywhere else. Even great players need time. Even stars struggle to adjust. For Wirtz, that adjustment period has been brutal, and Alan Shearer’s words have now thrown more fuel into the fire.

The criticism comes at a difficult time for Liverpool. The two defeats have shaken confidence. The fans who celebrated the summer spending spree are beginning to ask questions. Slot, who was praised for his fresh ideas, is now under pressure to find solutions quickly. The midfield looks unbalanced. The attack, despite the presence of Salah, Isak, and others, looks blunt. And the defense, anchored by Van Dijk, has shown cracks. In such a situation, the big names always carry the heaviest blame. Wirtz’s price tag has made him a target, whether fair or not.

Shearer’s words went beyond just individual criticism. He pointed to the wider issue: balance. He said Liverpool “can’t find the right balance as yet.” That is the heart of the problem. Wirtz has been used as a number 10, the creative hub of the team. But in modern football, a number 10 cannot just be creative; he must also press, defend, link, and adapt. Liverpool’s system under Slot is still being built, and Wirtz has not yet found his place within it. The chemistry with teammates is not fully there. The rhythm is not flowing. The new signings are still learning each other’s movements, tendencies, instincts. Until that gels, Wirtz will look like a piece of a puzzle that has not clicked into place.

But football is ruthless. Fans do not always have patience. Critics do not wait. When a player is signed for £116m, the world demands instant impact. That is why Shearer’s criticism matters. It reflects what many fans are feeling. It amplifies the doubts. And it puts Wirtz under even more pressure ahead of the next game against Chelsea. Stamford Bridge will not be an easy place to respond, but it may be the perfect stage for him to silence the doubters. If he produces a performance there, the narrative could flip instantly. From “poor again” to “arrival moment.” From pressure to praise. That is the power of football.

It is worth remembering that Wirtz is still just 22 years old. He has left his country, his comfort zone, his league, and joined one of the most demanding clubs in the world. The adaptation process can be cruel. Look back at history, and you will see countless examples of stars who needed time. Didier Drogba’s first season at Chelsea was criticized, yet he became a legend. Kevin De Bruyne struggled at Chelsea and Wolfsburg before becoming a genius at Manchester City. Even Salah himself had to leave England before returning as one of the best players in the world. Patience is rare in football, but often it is necessary.

Still, Shearer’s voice cannot be ignored. When the Premier League’s greatest goalscorer speaks, people listen. His words carry weight not just with fans, but with players too. Wirtz will have heard them. He will have read the headlines. He will know the judgment being passed on him. That can crush a player, or it can fuel them. The next weeks will show which way Wirtz responds.

Inside Liverpool, the mood is one of cautious belief. Slot has defended his player, reminding everyone that adaptation takes time and that Wirtz’s work rate cannot be questioned. Hughes has faith that the investment will pay off. Teammates have spoken privately about his quality in training, insisting that once he finds confidence, he will explode. The ingredients are there. The question is when the cooking will be finished, when the dish will be ready to serve.

The timing of this storm could not be more dramatic. Liverpool are entering a crucial run of games. Chelsea away, then the international break, then a return to face tough domestic and European fixtures. These are the matches that shape a season. These are the moments where legends are born or written off. Wirtz stands at a crossroads. He can allow the pressure to drown him, or he can rise and show why Liverpool believed in him so much.

For the fans, the emotions are mixed. Some are frustrated, some are sympathetic, some are still hopeful. They want to believe that Wirtz will become the superstar they were promised. They want to see him unlock defenses, create goals, score with style. They want to see the magic that made him worth the risk. But patience has limits, and the defeats have shortened tempers. Stamford Bridge will not just be another game; it will be a test of faith, a test of patience, a test of belief.

And so the story continues, a story of money, pressure, criticism, and hope. Alan Shearer’s voice has added drama, but it has also lit a fire. Wirtz now knows the world is watching him even closer. Liverpool know they cannot afford another slip. The fans know they are entering a period that could define the season. In this storm, only performances will matter.

For now, the headline is simple: Shearer says Wirtz has been poor, and it’s not working. But in football, headlines can change in a heartbeat. One goal, one assist, one dazzling display can rewrite the script. Will Wirtz deliver it? That is the question hanging over Anfield tonight.

Because at Liverpool, failure is not an option. The shirt is too heavy, the history too rich, the expectations too high. Florian Wirtz was brought to Anfield to be a hero. Right now, he is struggling. But heroes are not made in easy times. They are forged in moments like these, under pressure, under fire, when the world doubts them. This is Wirtz’s moment of truth.