Florian Wirtz’s highly anticipated arrival at Liverpool has already sparked debates, but this time it isn’t his performances causing a stir—it’s the way Sky Sports chose to highlight them.
The 22-year-old German playmaker, who sealed a record-breaking £116 million switch from Bayer Leverkusen this summer, was tipped to light up the Premier League after registering 10 goals and 12 assists in Germany last season. Interest from Bayern Munich and Manchester City only added to the hype before Liverpool won the race for his signature.
Yet, after a handful of matches, Wirtz is still waiting for his first goal or assist in England’s top flight, even though the Reds have maintained a perfect start.
The Controversial Stats
Ahead of Liverpool’s clash with Burnley, Sky Sports rolled out a graphic praising Wirtz’s early contributions—ranking him top for “off-ball runs,” “runs into the final third,” and “runs ahead of the ball.”
The reaction on social media was brutal. Many rival supporters mocked the broadcaster for what they saw as a desperate attempt to defend the player’s slow start. Comments ranged from, “Never seen ‘off-the-ball runs’ as a stat in my life,” to, “They’re just making things up now.”
Some fans accused the broadcaster of bias, with one writing: “Just show goals and assists like every other network. No agenda.”
What The Pundits Think
Although Wirtz failed to get on the scoresheet in Liverpool’s narrow 1-0 win over Burnley—decided by Mohamed Salah’s stoppage-time penalty—pundits believe his style of play may be hindering his output.
Gary Neville suggested on his podcast that the the youngster’s constant movement was making it harder for him to find space. “He’s always on the move. Sometimes you need to just stand still and let the game come to you,” the former Manchester United defender explained.
Rio Ferdinand echoed the point, revealing that statistics show Wirtz has covered more ground than any other player in the league so far. “He’s eager to impress, but sometimes slowing down is the key,” Ferdinand advised.
What’s Next
With the Champions League about to kick off, Wirtz has another chance to make his mark. Liverpool open their European campaign against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, and supporters will be hoping the German finally breaks his duck on the big stage.
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