Wirtz's father reveals why his son has yet to score at Liverpool

Speaking to BILD, Florian Wirtz’s father, Hans Wirtz, explained why his son has remained goalless since arriving at Liverpool.

Florian Wirtz has yet to find the net since his transfer to Liverpool for a fee of £116 million from Bayer Leverkusen last summer. This was a record transfer for both Liverpool and English football until they spent £125 million to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle United in the same transfer window.

The 22-year-old regularly features in the lineup, and positioning him in his preferred role has been a challenge for coach Arne Slot. After a disappointing run of defeats, Slot reverted to a midfield trio that had previously been tested and successful: Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, and Ryan Gravenberch. This forced Wirtz, who scored 16 goals for Leverkusen last season, to rotate with Cody Gakpo on the left wing, which is not his natural position.

However, to maintain team balance, he has had to play there. While waiting for his first goal, his father Hans Wirtz has spoken out.

In an interview with Bild, he said:

“From the beginning, I thought it would be best to wait and see how the first 10 Premier League games went. The speed in the Premier League is extraordinary, the back-and-forth pace is impressive in the initial matches. The distances covered and the speed are much greater [compared to the Bundesliga]. The style of play is sometimes completely different because it’s less organized and more focused on speed.”

Nevertheless, his father is confident that Wirtz will shine under Slot at Liverpool. He added:

“I think the standings clearly show there is room for improvement in this ‘football machine.’ But the system will self-adjust, I hope. Florian is a very talented player; my son can adapt to the demands there and enjoy it just like he did in the Bundesliga.”

Despite a difficult start with ten Premier League games without a goal or assist, Hans appreciates the support Slot has given his son. He shared: “What’s important is that Arne Slot has talked to Florian and explained my son’s value. He demonstrated a collaborative approach, and that convinced Florian.”

While Wirtz prefers to play in his natural position behind the striker, Slot believes he will be most effective as a versatile attacking player without a fixed position. Before the match against Man City in the 11th round of the 2025/26 Premier League, Arne Slot stated:

“Florian Wirtz can play in multiple positions. He can play on the left wing, which he mostly did at Leverkusen when Xabi Alonso implemented a 3-4-3 system. Previously, he mainly played as an attacking midfielder (number 10) in a 4-3-3 formation. I think it’s more important to put Florian in positions where he excels rather than focusing too much on whether he is a number 10, 11, or 8.”

“I think we want him to appear around the 18-yard box, either slightly to the left or right, creating chances like Wirtz did for us before.”

Florian Wirtz is still adapting to the Premier League, but with the coach’s trust and his family’s patience, the young player is expected to soon prove his worth at Anfield. The initial challenges have not diminished Wirtz’s potential; instead, they provide an opportunity for him to grow and become a key part of Liverpool’s lineup.

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