Liverpool wins but lacks joy due to Wirtz

The victory over Everton in the Merseyside derby gives Liverpool an advantage in the race for next season's Champions League qualification. On the other hand, the concern after the match lies in Florian Wirtz's underwhelming performance.

The goals that secured Liverpool's three points at Hill Dickinson were scored by veterans Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk. Salah is counting down his final days with the Reds of Merseyside, while Van Dijk is no longer the peak version he was in previous seasons.

The Merseyside derby should have been a stage for newcomers like Wirtz to demonstrate his readiness for a larger role in Liverpool's season of squad transition. Arne Slot's team spent £116 million to bring Wirtz from Leverkusen, expecting him to shine in crucial matches.

Unfortunately, Wirtz's form since the start of the season has not met expectations. He has taken considerable time to adapt to the playing style at Anfield. The German midfielder's most explosive period was from late last year to early this year. His tally of 6 goals and 10 assists in 44 appearances is not bad at all. However, over the past two months, goals bearing Wirtz's signature have been scarce. He has contributed only one assist in his last five matches across all competitions (including the recent derby against Everton). In the two Champions League quarter-final matches against PSG, Wirtz left no mark, which is one of the reasons why Slot's team was eliminated with a 0-4 aggregate loss.

In the 83 minutes against Everton, what did Wirtz accomplish? 0 goals, 0 assists, 1 dribble, and 4 passes that created scoring opportunities for teammates. The former Leverkusen midfielder faced difficulties as Everton frequently assigned James Garner to closely mark him in the first half. Wirtz struggled to handle possession and consequently often lost the ball. The 22-year-old now understands the difference between the Bundesliga, where he had more time to develop ideas with the ball, and the Premier League, a league demanding not only physical rigor but also speed of thought and ball handling.

Of course, criticizing Wirtz solely for his subdued performance in the Merseyside derby seems somewhat exaggerated. The German midfielder also faces challenges due to constant changes in Liverpool's attacking line, preventing him from finding a compatible partner upfront. Hugo Ekitike, who was performing well, is sidelined long-term due to injury, while Alexander Isak shows less fluid movement after a lengthy period of injury. Wirtz still has a long time to adapt and transform into a star at Anfield. What Slot needs from him is progress and the ability to learn from each Premier League match to be ready to shine from next season onward.