Liverpool star is still facing ‘big questions’ after recent performances – Journalist

Liverpool star is still facing ‘big questions’ after recent performances – Journalist David Lynch Raises Florian Wirtz Concern as Liverpool Search for Answers Florian Wirtz remains one of the central questions surrounding Liverpool’s early months under Andoni Iraola, with David Lynch admitting he expected more from the German midfielder during the opening weeks of the Premier League season. Speaking to Dave Davis on Anfield Index’s Media Matters podcast, Lynch identified Wirtz’s form when asked about his biggest concern around Liverpool so far. “I think it’s fair to say Florian Wirtz’s form, I would like him to show more,” Lynch said. That assessment comes with important context. Lynch does not believe Wirtz has continued at the level of his difficult first-half performance against Bournemouth, yet there remains a feeling that Liverpool are waiting for him to consistently impose himself on Premier League matches. “He’s not been anywhere near as bad as he was in that first half against Bournemouth,” Lynch explained. “But he’s also not been absolutely stunning either, particularly in the Premier League.” Premier League Question Remains for Wirtz Perhaps the most interesting element of Lynch’s assessment was the distinction between Wirtz’s performances domestically and in Europe. There have been encouraging moments. Lynch specifically pointed towards Liverpool’s Champions League meeting with Atletico Madrid as evidence of what Wirtz can produce. “I thought he was very good against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League,” he said. The problem is translating that level into the Premier League with enough regularity. Lynch continued: “He was putting in Champions League performances last season. Can he do it in the Premier League still remains the big question.” That is increasingly becoming the issue surrounding Wirtz. Nobody on the podcast was delivering a definitive judgement on his Liverpool career. Lynch repeatedly stressed the early nature of Iraola’s reign and Wirtz’s development within it. Yet his next assessment was telling. “Yeah, the jury’s out on that one.” Iraola Still Searching for Liverpool Midfield Formula Wirtz’s situation cannot be separated from Liverpool’s wider midfield puzzle. When Davis asked whether Iraola currently knows his strongest starting XI, Lynch suggested the Liverpool head coach has already found answers elsewhere. “I think he knows his back four,” Lynch said, before adding: “I think his preferred front three is probably Gakpo, Isak and Barcola.” Midfield is different. Liverpool have experimented with combinations as Iraola attempts to establish the correct balance, and Lynch believes the manager is still working through the possibilities. “I’m not sure he knows what mix he wants in midfield exactly yet,” he explained. That uncertainty brings Wirtz directly into the selection conversation. Lynch questioned “whether he needs to kind of rebalance things by throwing Trey in there and maybe sacrificing Wirtz or Szoboszlai”. “I think that’s something he’s still working out.” Photo: IMAGO Wirtz Has Time to Answer Liverpool Questions The intriguing possibility is that Iraola may already have his preferred combination. Lynch raised the prospect that “Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister” could eventually prove to be Liverpool’s best midfield, with other options providing competition and depth. “We don’t know that yet,” he said. That feels significant when assessing Wirtz. Liverpool’s early performances under Iraola remain a work in progress, particularly through midfield, and Lynch stopped well short of presenting Wirtz’s current difficulties as a long-term problem. “It’s still early days,” he said. “But it’s just a minor concern. I would have liked him to play better, obviously.” There is also a simple way for the debate to disappear. “Hopefully he can after this next international break,” Lynch added. “It would be good if those questions just disappeared.” For Wirtz, that is now the challenge. Liverpool have seen encouraging European performances and moments suggesting considerably more can come. Iraola is still determining how his midfield fits together, and Wirtz remains part of that equation. The Premier League question, though, remains unanswered. As Lynch put it: “Can he do it in the Premier League?” Liverpool will hope Wirtz provides the answer soon.