Germany masterclass hints at Liverpool revival for £100m Florian Wirtz

Liverpool’s £100m man, Florian Wirtz, has failed to live up to expectations – or buckled under the weight of them – since his high-profile move from Bayer Leverkusen in the off-season, but there were signs of the ‘old Wirtz’ in Germany’s recent 6-0 demolition of Slovakia, and Reds fans will hope that it marks the turning point in his and the club’s season.

Wirtz orchestrated play at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig on Monday as Germany sealed their place at the 2026 World Cup, providing two beautiful assists for Leroy Sané while his overall performance was full of composure, creativity, and confidence – the kind of midfield control that Liverpool envisioned when they made him their marquee signing.

It was a timely performance. Critics in England had grown restless as Wirtz struggled to find his rhythm, the goals and assists hadn’t flowed, and some questioned whether he could justify the price tag. The player himself had admitted that he may have underestimated the enormity of the task in adapting to the intensity and physicality of the English Premier League after  moving from the Bundesliga. 

Strong performances in the Champions League victories against Frankfurt and Real Madrid gave glimpses of his undoubted talent, but inconsistent performances followed.

For Germany, he was once again unplayable on Monday night – completing 94% of his passes (72 out of 77), creating six chances (more than any other teammate), and dominating touches (99 in total) before being subbed off in the 77th minute, according to Football Insider.

The World Cup beckons for Die Mannschaft, with Wirtz proving that he can still be a central figure in their plans. But perhaps the biggest win of all was personal: in mastering Slovakia, Wirtz might have also mastered the doubt that shadowed his first months on Merseyside.

It wasn’t just the assists, it was the statement: Wirtz still has that spark, vision and footballing intelligence that made him one of the most wanted midfielders in world football not too long ago. For Liverpool fans, it might finally be the sign they were waiting for.

Even the German media were effusive in their praise of the 22-year-old playmaker for Julian Nagelsmann’s side.

“Ah, good to see you again, Mr. Wirtz, we’ve missed you!” wrote German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung.

“For weeks it wasn’t even clear whether it was Florian Wirtz or a bewildered doppelganger on the pitch in Liverpool and the national team.

“In Leipzig, the original was back: technique, turns, crosses, passes, two beautiful assists before Leroy Sane’s goals – everything was back to normal, just like the player who cost a fortune this summer. 

“He even provided arguments for being named Man of the Match without scoring himself. If Julian Nagelsmann wants to achieve his goal (of winning the title) at the World Cup, he needs exactly this Wirtz.”

Liverpool – who are sixth in the table with 18 points from 11 games – return to league action with Saturday’s home match against basement dwellers Nottingham Forest. If Wirtz can carry the rhythm and creativity from the international stage back into the Premier League, he may yet validate his record-breaking move and become the creative heartbeat the Reds have long sought.