Bitter opening day of 125 million euro rookie

Florian Wirtz has just made his Premier League debut.

The 22-year-old attacking midfielder, who has just had a brilliant season with Bayer Leverkusen, is the brightest gem of German football at the moment and is considered a landmark signing in Arne Slot’s rebuilding process. But the higher the expectations, the greater the pressure. And right from the first days, there were signs reminiscent of a “mistake” named Kai Havertz.

Worrying comparison with Havertz

Havertz joined Chelsea for over £70m after a brilliant 2019/20 season with Leverkusen. At that time, he was hailed as the new “all-rounder number 10” of European football. But after a few years, Havertz only left disappointment at Chelsea and then Arsenal, never reaching the stature that people expected.

Wirtz's 2024/25 numbers show a similar pattern. He scored 10 goals and provided 12 assists in 31 Bundesliga appearances. Compared to Havertz in 2019/20 (12 goals, 6 assists), Wirtz is more creative but his finishing efficiency is slightly lower. What's more worrying is his passing accuracy and ability to compete: Wirtz only completed 78.3% of his passes, much lower than Havertz (84.2%), and won only 20% of his aerial duels, compared to his senior's 42.2%.

These statistics show one thing: Wirtz is rich in ideas, but lacks the solidity and physicality – two factors that the Premier League always requires.

Last week's Community Shield defeat to Crystal Palace showed that Wirtz is easily overwhelmed by high intensity. On the pitch, the 22-year-old player sometimes drifted out of control, unable to show his natural elegance. Against Bournemouth in the opening round of the Premier League on the morning of August 16, he also failed to make a big impression, as Liverpool had to rely on the brilliance of Ekitike, Chiesa and Salah to win.

Fans are concerned that Wirtz could follow in the footsteps of Kai Havertz (right).

Another issue is the tactical environment. At Leverkusen, Wirtz had the full support of Xabi Alonso, surrounded by anchors to create freely. At Liverpool, Arne Slot aimed for the same, but the absence of Ryan Gravenberch in the opening game left a gap in midfield. Wirtz was therefore more vulnerable to physical pressure from opponents.

Risks and expectations

No one denies Wirtz's talent. He possesses rare flair, vision and ability to move into space.

But the Premier League is not only about creative passing, it also demands strength, speed and endurance, which is what has worn down Havertz, turning him from a “future star” into a signing of doubt.

If Wirtz doesn’t adapt quickly, a similar scenario could well be on the horizon. His £116m price tag has made patience at Anfield even shorter. In an environment where the pressure from the stands is always heavy, a few lacklustre performances can turn the support into scepticism.

Coach Arne Slot certainly understands the challenges. His job is to allow Wirtz to play to his strengths while protecting him from being overextended too early. Adding a strong defensive midfielder to take the load off Wirtz and allow him to focus more on creativity would be a sensible solution.

Wirtz needs to work harder to adapt to Premier League culture.

More importantly, Slot needs to be patient. A difficult first season does not mean a long-term failure. Havertz had a similar start but failed to find the right environment to develop. Wirtz is different – he is coming into a team that has just won the Premier League, where belief and the desire to win are still high.

Florian Wirtz brings a spark of difference to Liverpool. But that spark could fade if he doesn’t quickly adapt to the Premier League. The comparison to Havertz is a warning, but also an incentive for Wirtz to avoid making the same mistake.

In the harsh world of English football, finesse is not enough. To be worthy of a record fee and the No. 7 shirt at Anfield, Wirtz needs to prove that he is not just an artist, but also a warrior willing to adapt, overcome challenges and rise to assert his true worth.

Source: https://znews.vn/ngay-mo-man-cay-dang-cua-tan-binh-125-trieu-euro-post1577396.html