Florian Wirtz’s early days at Liverpool have sparked plenty of debate — and Sky Sports’ latest statistical breakdown has only poured fuel on the fire.

The German playmaker joined the Reds from Bayer Leverkusen in a record-breaking £116m summer deal, after dazzling in the Bundesliga with 10 goals and 12 assists last season. But despite Liverpool’s perfect start to their title defence, the 22-year-old is still waiting for his first direct contribution in the Premier League.

That hasn’t stopped him from working tirelessly on the pitch. In fact, Sky Sports highlighted his off-the-ball movement ahead of Liverpool’s clash with Burnley, noting that Wirtz ranked top in areas like forward runs, entries into the final third, and movement beyond defenders.

🔴 The Reaction
Instead of being impressed, many fans ridiculed the broadcaster. On social media, critics accused Sky of “inventing stats” just to make Wirtz look good, with one user writing: “I’ve never seen ‘off-the-ball runs’ counted as a stat in my life.” Others argued the coverage showed “clear Liverpool bias,” urging the network to focus on goals and assists like every other broadcaster.

Still, some pundits see method in Wirtz’s madness. Gary Neville, speaking on his podcast, suggested that the youngster’s constant movement might actually be holding him back:

> “He’s always on the move — sometimes too much. Standing still can be just as effective. When you keep drifting, you make it easier for defenders to pick you up.”

Rio Ferdinand echoed that view, warning Wirtz that he may need to calm his game down if he wants to thrive in England:

> “He runs more than anyone in the league, but sometimes you’ve got to pause and let the game come to you.”

In Liverpool’s narrow 1-0 victory over Burnley, sealed by Mohamed Salah’s stoppage-time penalty, Wirtz once again couldn’t find the breakthrough. But with a Champions League showdown against Atletico Madrid fast approaching, he’ll be desperate to finally leave his mark in a red shirt.