David Lynch makes bold Florian Wirtz prediction after recent criticism

David Lynch makes bold Florian Wirtz prediction after recent criticism David Lynch Backs Florian Wirtz to Become Liverpool Player of the Season Florian Wirtz may still be searching for complete consistency at Liverpool, but David Lynch has seen enough already to make a significant prediction about the German midfielder. Speaking to Dave Davis on Anfield Index’s Media Matters podcast following Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Ipswich Town, Lynch backed Wirtz to become the club’s player of the season. That prediction arrived despite Lynch acknowledging that Wirtz produced another performance at Portman Road which could be difficult to assess. Some supporters were critical. Lynch saw something rather different. Florian Wirtz Criticism Questioned After Ipswich Win Davis asked Lynch for his Liverpool player of the year prediction after three Premier League matches, with the transfer window now closed and Andoni Iraola beginning to shape his new side. Lynch’s selection was Wirtz. “I think I’m just going to go with Florian Wirtz.” The German’s performance against Ipswich had generated debate, something Lynch acknowledged. “He had another kind of strange game on Friday and I saw people coming away criticising him.” Yet Lynch believed some of Wirtz’s football during the opening 45 minutes demonstrated precisely why expectations remain so high. “I thought there were periods in the first half where he was absolutely magnificent.” He particularly highlighted Wirtz’s involvement in Liverpool’s attacking combinations. “Genuinely, some of the link play he was involved in that got Liverpool on the front foot.” Liverpool Starting to Find Wirtz in Dangerous Areas Perhaps the most significant part of Lynch’s analysis concerned how Liverpool are beginning to use Wirtz. Judging a creative midfielder exclusively through goals and assists can miss the influence he has earlier in attacking sequences. Lynch believes Wirtz is already contributing to Liverpool chances without necessarily receiving the final statistical credit. “He’s also involved in loads of situations that ends in chances, but he’s not the one necessarily providing the assist.” That distinction matters when assessing how quickly Wirtz is adapting to Liverpool. Lynch also praised one of the German’s fundamental qualities. “I think his movement’s really good.” More importantly, he believes Liverpool themselves are improving at recognising that movement. “I think Liverpool are getting better at finding him in areas where he can hurt people.” For Iraola, that could become crucial. Wirtz does not necessarily need every Liverpool attack constructed around him. The task is to ensure he receives possession frequently enough in the spaces where his technical ability can influence matches. David Lynch Identifies Area Wirtz Must Improve Lynch’s praise did come with a qualification. Wirtz remains capable of improving the precision of his play. “He needs to be a touch tidier sometimes, a bit more crisp in his passing, but I think it will come.” Photo: IMAGO That is an important part of the assessment. Lynch is not arguing that Wirtz has already reached his best level for Liverpool. His prediction is based on the quality already visible and the expectation that the details will improve as the season develops. His conclusion on the midfielder was emphatic. “I just think he’s a brilliant footballer.” That conviction ultimately informed Lynch’s season prediction. “So, I’m going for him for best player this year.” Wirtz Could Become Central to Iraola’s Liverpool Three Premier League matches provide only an early glimpse of how Iraola’s Liverpool will eventually operate. Wirtz is also operating within a side still adjusting to a new head coach and new attacking relationships. The Ipswich performance nevertheless offered Lynch enough encouragement to look beyond the immediate criticism. There were moments when Wirtz helped Liverpool move forward through combinations, moments when his movement opened possibilities, and situations where his involvement contributed to chances without producing an assist beside his name. That provides an important context for judging his opening weeks. Liverpool supporters may naturally expect immediate decisive numbers from a player of Wirtz’s reputation. Lynch’s assessment suggests the process occurring underneath those numbers is already encouraging. His prediction also carries considerable weight when considering the competition. Alexander Isak has started the season strongly, and Lynch backed the striker to finish as Liverpool’s leading goalscorer. Yet when asked to identify the player he expects to become Liverpool’s best performer across the campaign, he chose Wirtz. For a player still finding complete fluency within Iraola’s Liverpool, that is some endorsement. Wirtz may have improvements to make. Lynch believes the signs are already there. If Liverpool continue finding him in the areas where he can influence games, those flashes of quality could soon become much more difficult to overlook.