Liverpool are champions of England again, but the story of this new season has not been one of calm dominance. It has been chaotic, tense, dramatic, and nerve-shredding, with every victory coming at the very last breath of the game. They remain unbeaten, they remain on top, but beneath that perfect record lies the reality of a squad still adjusting, still learning, and still trying to live up to the weight of enormous expectations. Now, the spotlight has begun to shift, and it is landing firmly on one man — Florian Wirtz.
The German wonderkid, the £116 million signing from Bayer Leverkusen, the player many believed was the crown jewel of Arne Slot’s new era, is suddenly finding himself under scrutiny. Liverpool fans adore his potential, his creativity, his reputation as one of the finest talents of his generation. But in the ruthless world of the Premier League, price tags demand performances, and four games into the season, questions are already being asked. Has he adapted fast enough? Is he delivering what Liverpool need? Could Arne Slot, the man who has shown no fear in making bold decisions, even consider dropping him from the starting lineup?
This is the drama unfolding at Anfield. Wirtz is not alone — Milos Kerkez, another summer signing, is also finding the pace of English football difficult to master. Both have talent beyond doubt. Both were brought in not as short-term experiments but as long-term pillars of Liverpool’s future. But the Premier League has no time for bedding-in periods. And as Liverpool prepare for another huge run of games, including a Merseyside derby against Everton, the whispers are growing louder. Could Wirtz really face the axe?
When Liverpool went on their massive spending spree this summer, eyebrows were raised across Europe. The club that had long been cautious in the transfer market suddenly broke the British transfer record twice in a matter of weeks. First, Wirtz arrived from Bayer Leverkusen, hailed as the heir to the throne of Europe’s creative midfielders. Then, in the closing days of the window, Liverpool stunned the league again by prising Alexander Isak away from Newcastle United for £125 million. Alongside those two headline deals came Jeremie Frimpong, Hugo Ekitike, Geovanni Leoni, and Kerkez — a complete squad overhaul designed to keep Liverpool at the very top.
But with great spending comes great expectation. For Wirtz, the spotlight has been merciless. Every touch, every pass, every missed chance is dissected not just by fans but by pundits and rivals alike. Against Burnley, in Liverpool’s tense 1-0 victory, he once again struggled to create the spark expected of him. The game was eventually decided by Mohamed Salah’s penalty in stoppage time, but many noted that Wirtz was quiet throughout.
This is not to say he has been poor. Far from it. His intelligence, his movement, his link-up play are clear to see. But Liverpool did not spend over £100 million for flashes of quality. They spent it for match-winning brilliance. They spent it for game-changers who would lift them above the rest. And so far, Wirtz has been overshadowed — not just by Salah, but even by Hugo Ekitike, the French forward who has taken to life at Anfield with surprising ease.
Ekitike’s impact only adds to the pressure. At just 23 years old, he has already shown fearlessness, directness, and a hunger that Liverpool fans have embraced. In contrast, Wirtz has looked more cautious, more restrained, as if still finding his footing. It is understandable — the Premier League is unforgiving, faster, and more physical than the Bundesliga. Yet, Slot faces a dilemma. Should he persist with Wirtz, giving him time to adapt, or should he rotate, allowing others like Ekitike to play in his preferred role behind the striker?
Alexander Isak complicates this even further. The Swede has yet to fully establish himself in the team after missing pre-season due to his standoff with Newcastle, but when he is fit, there is no question he will lead Liverpool’s attack. That means Ekitike could naturally slot into the creative role just behind him, the very space Wirtz currently occupies. If Slot makes that adjustment, Wirtz could find himself on the bench — not as punishment, but as a tactical necessity.
And yet, for a player of his stature, being benched would be seismic. Wirtz is no ordinary signing. He is not a youngster thrown in for development. He is a statement — a player who was courted by Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich, now wearing Liverpool red. To see him out of the starting XI after only a handful of games would raise eyebrows across Europe.
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Slot, however, has already shown he does not bow to reputation. His decision to substitute Milos Kerkez before half-time against Burnley was proof of that. The young Hungarian full-back had been booked and was living dangerously. Slot saw the risk of a red card, saw Burnley’s players and fans targeting him, and made the call. Andy Robertson came on, Kerkez walked off, frustrated but educated. It was ruthless, but it was necessary. Slot will not hesitate to do the same with Wirtz if he believes it will benefit the team.
Liverpool’s fans are divided. Some argue patience is essential, pointing out that Wirtz is only 22 and in a new country, adjusting to a new league, a new system, and the pressure of a giant price tag. Others believe competition is healthy and that no player should be untouchable, no matter the cost. The debate is fiery, but it reflects the new reality at Liverpool. They are no longer underdogs. They are the team to beat, the champions, the club that spends like the giants of Europe. With that status comes the expectation of instant results.
The most fascinating aspect of this situation is how Wirtz himself will respond. Those who have watched his career closely know he is not one to crumble under pressure. At Leverkusen, he carried the team on his back at times, producing moments of magic that defied his age. He thrives when challenged, and some believe that being dropped, even briefly, could be the spark he needs. Sometimes, the fire of competition brings out the very best.
Arne Slot must now walk the tightrope of man-management. Handle Wirtz carefully, and he could unlock the superstar Liverpool dreamed of. Push him too hard, too fast, and confidence could suffer. This is where Slot’s reputation as a tactician and psychologist will be truly tested. He has already proven his tactical brilliance by delivering the Premier League title in his debut season, but this is a different challenge — shaping egos, balancing rotation, and ensuring harmony in a squad packed with expensive talent.
Meanwhile, Kerkez’s struggles highlight the difficulty of adapting to Liverpool’s intensity. At just 21, he has the raw qualities to succeed, but the yellow cards and erratic moments show he is still learning. Unlike Wirtz, Kerkez was not brought in as a marquee name but as a project, someone who can eventually take over from Robertson. For now, he remains in the shadows, but Slot’s trust in him remains. The axe he felt at Turf Moor was not permanent. It was a lesson.
The season is still young, and Liverpool are still perfect. But the questions being asked now will not go away. When Isak reaches full fitness, when Ekitike continues to push for starts, when Robertson reclaims consistency, Slot will have to make choices. Big choices. Choices that could define not just individual careers but the direction of the entire season.
For Wirtz, this is the moment of truth. He does not need to justify his price tag in four games. But he does need to show growth, adaptation, and glimpses of the genius that made Liverpool chase him so relentlessly. The Premier League has already humbled great players, but it has also elevated others to immortality. Which path Wirtz takes will depend on how he responds in the coming weeks.
Liverpool’s fans know this feeling well. They have seen stars struggle at first — Salah himself, when he returned to England after failing at Chelsea, was doubted. He became a legend. Darwin Núñez, once mocked for misses, is now celebrated for his resilience. Patience, in football, often reaps rewards. But patience is hard to come by when the stakes are so high and the title race so unforgiving.
And so, as the season pushes on, the story of Wirtz and Kerkez will continue to unfold. Both are young, both are learning, both are under Slot’s watchful eye. The axe may fall temporarily, but it is not the end. It is part of the journey. What matters is how they respond, how they fight, and how they prove they belong at a club as big as Liverpool.
Anfield is a place of legends, a place where reputations are made and broken. Wirtz came to join that lineage, to write his own chapter in Liverpool’s glorious history. Whether he starts every game or not, his destiny is still in his hands. But one thing is certain — in Slot’s Liverpool, no one is guaranteed anything. Not even a £245,000-a-week superstar
