🛠️ Technical Area
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EPL

Wirtz shines in Liverpool win at Brentford but questions linger over German playmaker’s impact

By WAF News Desk 2 min read
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Wirtz shines in Liverpool win at Brentford but questions linger over German playmaker’s impact

Liverpool returned to winning ways in the Premier League on Saturday with victory at Brentford, with Florian Wirtz instrumental in the performance. According to BBC Sport Football, the German playmaker created nine chances from open play, a Premier League record for any player over the past six seasons. The last player to achieve such a tally was Sadio Mané for Liverpool against Burnley in January 2021, also nine chances.

The Reds recovered from their first league defeat of the season against Manchester City the previous weekend by scoring twice in the second half. Brentford were reduced to ten men before half-time, and Liverpool made the advantage count, registering 14 of their 21 total attempts after the interval. Wirtz was central to their attacking play in west London.

Despite the statistical excellence, BBC Sport Football noted that questions persist about whether the £116m summer signing from Bayer Leverkusen has truly replicated the form that persuaded Liverpool to make the club record purchase in June 2025. Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard suggested this week that the 23-year-old could benefit from being omitted from the team to rebuild confidence.

Wirtz completed 53 of 65 passes attempted, with 38 landing in the final third, demonstrating technical proficiency. However, the publication suggested that the broader impact of his playing style on team dynamics remains a point of consideration for manager Andoni Iraola.

Reporting from BBC Sport Football

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