Liverpool’s 20-year-old German midfielder, signed from Bayer Leverkusen in July 2025, has come under heavy criticism from Wayne Rooney, who branded him a “liability” on his BBC podcast. According to Rooney, Florian Wirtz “hurts” the team’s balance instead of improving it. The remarks, aired on September 29, reportedly left Wirtz furious, sparking a confrontation with manager Arne Slot during a squad meeting. The fallout comes at a sensitive moment, with Liverpool still reeling from a 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace and preparing for a challenging trip to Istanbul’s Rams Park.
Wirtz, once hailed as a generational talent after producing 11 goals and 12 assists in the Bundesliga last season, has found life in England difficult. In eight Premier League appearances, he has neither scored nor assisted, and has been subbed off early in every start—including after just 62 minutes against Palace. Rooney argued that Wirtz disrupts Slot’s pressing approach, suggesting that Dominik Szoboszlai or Curtis Jones would be better fits. “He’s a superstar, but he’s costing them,” Rooney said, even joking about Anfield’s “freezing” away dressing rooms.
The criticism struck a nerve. Wirtz responded via Bild, insisting, “I’m here to improve the team, not break it,” and reportedly confronted Slot over the matter. Fans have been quick to defend him online, generating over 50,000 posts on X under hashtags like #WirtzOut and #RooneyDelusional. Many, including @AnfieldEdition, accused Rooney of bias and called for Slot to give Wirtz more playing time. Even Rooney’s wife Coleen, a Liverpool supporter, poked fun at him with a meme about banning him from Anfield.
The controversy comes at the worst possible time. Liverpool’s 21-man squad for the Galatasaray clash—featuring Alisson, Van Dijk, and Salah, but omitting both Wirtz and the injured Federico Chiesa—has already raised concerns about creativity. Slot defended his record signing, saying, “He’s adapting to a new league. We believe in him.” Still, with Galatasaray possibly welcoming back Victor Osimhen and a hostile atmosphere expected, Liverpool can ill afford distractions.
Wirtz’s exclusion, coupled with Chiesa’s injury and Giovanni Leoni’s ACL absence, highlights a worrying lack of depth. Supporters fear more dropped points, even though Liverpool remain top of the league despite wobbling against Palace. Some pundits, like Alan Shearer, dismissed Rooney’s remarks, calling Wirtz a “luxury” the squad should embrace. Rival Everton fans, however, are enjoying the turmoil, fueling Merseyside banter.
As Liverpool head into a key Champions League tie before facing Chelsea on October 4, attention is firmly on whether Wirtz can bounce back from Rooney’s criticism—or whether his struggles will cast a shadow over Anfield’s record signing. The tension is palpable, but the Reds will need to turn it into momentum.
