For all the joy I get from being a soccer/football fan, one thing I could do without is how remarkably fickle its supporters can be.
Players are hailed as heroes one week and written off the next. New signings barely have time to unpack their bags before being branded “flops,” especially if they carry a hefty price tag and don’t deliver instantly.
Vinícius Júnior at Real Madrid, Jack Grealish at City— the list is endless. Miss a few chances and suddenly you’re an “007” or a “cardio merchant.”
So imagine my disbelief watching people online already asking whether Florian Wirtz “regrets” joining Liverpool.
Yes, he hasn’t notched a goal or assist in a competitive match yet — but all the signs suggest his breakthrough isn’t just possible. It’s imminent. And when it comes, it’s going to be glorious.
Before diving into the recent developments that suggest he’s about to explode after the international break, it’s worth looking at what Wirtz has actually produced on the pitch.
Wirtz leads the league in a key stat
Yes, goals and assists have seemingly become the be-all and end-all when judging attacking players today —and yes, Wirtz’s tally still reads zero, which must change soon. But is that truly a reflection of his performances?
If we look beyond goal contributions, Wirtz hasn’t just excelled— he’s led the entire Premier League in one of the most valuable attacking metrics, big chances created, with 21 to his name.
This goes to show that while the ball hasn’t yet found the back of the net thanks to his efforts, it’s only a matter of time before it does.
Wirtz actually shares the league lead with Grealish in the category, and if fortune had gone his way, he might already be matching the Everton man’s five goals or assists. Give it time, and I’m confident Wirtz will catch up to Grealish's.
Fans also love the "eye test," so take Liverpool’s recent match against Chelsea. Seconds after coming on at halftime at Stamford Bridge, Wirtz received a ball in transition from Cody Gakpo and slipped an outrageously clever pass beyond Marc Cucurella to put Mohamed Salah through on goal, who ended up firing it wide.
It was a moment of pure elegance —almost ballet-like in its movement— and the chance was carved entirely by Wirtz’s vision.
So while the G/A account is blank, Wirtz has displayed plenty to show that he's already becoming well-acclimated to the top notch defending and physicality of English football.
Support from respected voices
On top of the almost unbelievable fact that he hasn’t registered a goal or assist despite creating so many chances, Wirtz can at least take confidence from being named Germany’s Footballer of the Year for 2025 — joining an elite list that includes Manuel Neuer, Toni Kroos, and Bastian Schweinsteiger, among others.
German national team manager Julian Nagelsmann also defended the 22 year-old’s start to life in the Premier League; “It’s not his fault if his team-mates don’t convert them, and the statistics don’t even tell the whole story,” he said.
“Wirtz needs to get used to the league. I saw him playing with total freedom. He knows what he’s capable of and how things work. He hasn’t always had it easy — he’ll have to work hard now too,” he continued.
Then there’s Ilkay Gundogan, Wirtz’s national teammate who was the heart of Man City's midfield during their astonishing run of five English titles in recent years, who had this to say about Liverpool’s record signing: "I would like to see a bit more in-depth analysis here – and not just focus on the bare assists and goals. Anyone who doesn't see Flo's outstanding quality really doesn't understand much about football. To call it a transfer flop already is completely exaggerated,” he began.
“I'm sure the goals and assists will come very soon – if not in October, then from November onwards. No player or person in this world can completely block out so much noise; it always takes its toll on you.
Nevertheless, I believe Flo, as a human being, and given his immense talent, will get through this phase. That would also be extremely important for the German national team. Personally, I don't have many doubts and see it as just a matter of time,” he concluded.
But perhaps the most recent ringing endorsement Wirtz received was from Liverpool’s German icon himself, Jurgen Klopp, who seemingly has no doubts that the midfielder will be a star in Red for years to come.
“His quality is so outstanding, the discussions are a bit exaggerated. Liverpool just lost three games in a row, which is unusual. But that's also normal in life and that's why such things are discussed there. [Wirtz is] a once-in-a-century talent, and at some point he'll show that in every game again -- just as he did at Leverkusen,” the Normal One said.
Between the underlying numbers that go far beyond goals and assists, and the ringing endorsements he’s earned from some of the most respected voices in world football, I’m calling my shot: Florian Wirtz will return from the break like a man on a mission — ready to bury the narrative that his move to Merseyside was a mistake.