MU legend criticizes Florian Wirtz for harming Liverpool, saying he should no longer be fielded

30/09/2025 07:58:00 GameGladiator

Florian Wirtz, Liverpool’s £116 million marquee signing, has become a major topic of controversy due to his continuous disappointing performances since joining Anfield. Recently, Wayne Rooney – the Manchester United legend – bluntly stated that the German midfielder "is harming Liverpool" and arguably doesn’t deserve to keep starting.

Joining Liverpool last summer from Bayer Leverkusen, Wirtz came with huge expectations. He was regarded as the future playmaker of the club, someone who could inherit the creative midfield role. However, the demanding Premier League environment has revealed many limitations in the 22-year-old. After eight appearances in all competitions, Wirtz has yet to score or assist. Significantly, in every match he started, he was substituted off midway, indicating that coach Arne Slot does not fully trust the record signing’s abilities.

In the Merseyside derby, Wirtz was left on the bench and only witnessed his teammates secure a narrow 2-1 victory over Everton. When he returned to the starting lineup for the away game at Crystal Palace, he disappointed again by missing a clear scoring chance in front of Dean Henderson’s goal. After 74 lackluster minutes, Wirtz was replaced by Federico Chiesa.

Wirtz is facing significant challenges at Liverpool

In response to this situation, Wayne Rooney expressed a frank opinion. Speaking on Sky Sports, the former England forward said: "He is talented, that’s undeniable. But within Liverpool’s current system, Wirtz has no place. He disrupts the team’s balance, which is dangerous for the entire squad. For me, if I had to choose between Wirtz and Szoboszlai, I would pick Szoboszlai."

Rooney further analyzed that Liverpool currently has too many high-quality attacking stars, and Wirtz’s inclusion makes the offense crowded and unbalanced. "Liverpool has almost changed the entire frontline and still has Salah, so the competition is extremely tough. In this picture, Wirtz is the least adapted. He hasn’t found the right position, despite the large sum spent," Rooney commented.

Rooney’s remarks have intensified doubts about Liverpool’s huge investment decision. At this moment, Wirtz’s contributions are insignificant, while the pressure from his £116 million price tag continues to mount.

Wirtz himself acknowledges he hasn’t shown much yet. In an interview with Sky Germany, the midfielder said: "Of course, I want to score or assist. I don’t want to keep hearing things like ‘be patient.’ I’m trying to improve day by day. Sometimes there are difficult phases, and I believe I will overcome them."

Liverpool will face Galatasaray in the second group stage match of the Champions League midweek. This could be an opportunity for Wirtz to prove his value and regain confidence, or it might further strengthen Rooney’s opinion that he should not play until he recovers his form.

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