Andy Robertson Defends ‘Really Special’ Liverpool Star Florian Wirtz Amid Criticism

Andy Robertson Offers a Fresh Perspective on Wirtz

Following Liverpool’s 1-0 victory over Bournemouth, pundit Jamie Carragher suggested that manager Andoni Iraola should consider dropping Wirtz from his starting XI. However, former Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson delivered a robust defense of his former teammate during an appearance on Stick to Football, arguing that statistics alone fail to capture Wirtz’s actual contributions on the pitch.

“I see a really special footballer, but I know he’s got to prove he can do it in the Premier League,” Robertson stated on the podcast. The defender pointed out that Wirtz frequently created scoring opportunities last season that teammates failed to convert, noting that Mohamed Salah experienced a difficult scoring year, Cody Gakpo missed chances on the left, Alexander Isak battled injuries, and Hugo Ekitike performed well under the circumstances.

Statistical Reality and Missed Opportunities

Robertson calculated that Wirtz could easily have finished last season with 10 or 12 assists rather than his actual total of 10 in all competitions. That creative bad luck has spilled into the current term, highlighted by moments such as a clever flick from Wirtz during a 2-1 defeat at Chelsea that put Mohamed Salah clean through, only for the Egyptian forward to miss the target.

The adjustment period has also been compounded by the sheer scale of Wirtz’s transition. Arriving from a Bayer Leverkusen side that swept both the Bundesliga and the German Cup under a central tactical role, the 23-year-old was thrust straight into a different league, a demanding new tactical environment, and a relentless media spotlight.

Patience Required for Anfield’s Record Acquisition

While the £100m price tag naturally invites harsh critiques when goal and assist tallies stall, Robertson emphasized that Wirtz possesses the hunger and elite mentality needed to succeed. The Scotsman also noted that adaptation takes time in English football, drawing parallels to the career arcs of players like Mohamed Salah and Kevin De Bruyne, neither of whom instantly established themselves as Premier League dominators upon arrival.

At just 23 years of age, Wirtz retains ample time to alter the narrative. With technical brilliance already established, the primary challenge remains translating those flashes of vision into undeniable numbers under Iraola’s guidance.