Overview

• Florian Wirtz remains without a goal or assist for Liverpool since the Community Shield, extending a quiet start despite regular minutes in league and Europe.
• Julian Nagelsmann publicly defended him, citing Opta data that he has created more chances than any Premier League player and urging patience with his transition.
• The 22-year-old played every minute of Germany’s two World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg and Northern Ireland and posted “Successful international break.”
• Liverpool entered the break on three consecutive defeats, and Wirtz was left out of the starting XI against Chelsea as questions over role and minutes intensified.
• Pundits split on next steps: Danny Murphy and Emile Heskey point to adaptation to pace, physicality and changing partners, while Jamie Carragher has suggested a temporary benching, with some analysts proposing tweaks to play Wirtz behind two strikers.