Florian Wirtz faced intense scrutiny during Liverpool's narrow 1-0 Premier League win against Bournemouth after manager Andoni Iraola was spotted losing his temper on the touchline. The German midfielder struggled to make an impact at the Vitality Stadium, prompting heavy criticism from pundits and analysts alike.
"Florian Wirtz for me, it is the first time I have seen him live, and he just does not look like he belongs in this league," said former Premier League striker Troy Deeney via talkSPORT.
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SubscribeDeeney highlighted that Wirtz's tendency to slow down the tempo was causing frustration among his teammates, allowing Bournemouth to recover defensively and stifling attacks led by Cody Gakpo and Bradley Barcola.
Pundit Jamie Carragher also lambsted the midfielder's first-half performance as nothing, questioning whether he deserved to come out for the second half of the match.
Iraola Explodes as Teammates Disbelieve in Wirtz
Despite Alexander Isak securing the crucial goal to claim all three points for the visitors, questions continue to mount regarding Wirtz's adaptation and long-term role under the new managerial setup.
Andoni Iraola blew his top on the touchline as his tactical instructions were continually disrupted by the sluggish pace brought into the build-up play.
"The rest of the team are starting to disbelieve because every time it goes to him, the tempo slows down," Deeney explained regarding the growing frustration within the squad.
Observers noted that while Wirtz displays effortless technical quality during pre-match warm-ups, he appears to be overthinking and lacking conviction when competitive action gets underway.