Liverpool insiders now have a theory for why Florian Wirtz struggled so much in 25/26
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Florian Wirtz arrived at Anfield in the summer of 2025 for a sizable fee that brought with it high expectations.The German had previously been one of Bayer Leverkusen’s top stars and played a key role in their Bundesliga title triumph under Xabi Alonso.However, Wirtz received much criticism during his debut Liverpool season, with those inside the club now under the impression that the versatile midfielder had a tough time adapting to the physicality of the Premier League. Who has been the most disappointing Liverpool signing? 😬 Physicality of the Premier League was a problem for Florian WirtzLike many former Bundesliga talents who have made it to England in the past, Christopher Nkunku and Timo Werner being among the standout examples, Wirtz did not come close to matching the lofty heights he reached in Germany.He scored five and assisted four in 33 Premier League matches for the Merseyside outfit, enduring long spells without any goal contributions.But a report from The Athletic has now shed some light on his issues, saying that ‘there’s a sense internally that Wirtz’s adaptation to English football was made tougher by his arrival at a time when the Premier League was becoming more physical’.However, while Wirtz did not exactly have a dream debut campaign in England, those inside the club ‘remain convinced’ he will be better come 2026/27.Arne Slot’s prediction for Florian WirtzArne Slot has been similarly positive about Wirtz, backing the 23-year-old to ‘only become better’ in an interview earlier this month.He said: “His improvement, he was already an elite player, has been for me obvious.
He is 23 on Sunday. That makes sense, every player is at his best at 25/26, he can only become better.
That is the beauty of the signings we made.”Likewise, Jeremie Frimpong also recently praised Wirtz, suggesting that there is a ‘lot more coming from’ from his long-time teammate.The defender stated: “He’s [Wirtz] an amazing player, you know, he wins you titles.“So yes, there’s a lot more coming from Flo, 100%. And there’s a lot more you will see.”Join Our NewsletterReceive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox