Liverpool's Florian Wirtz challenge: Do nine chances created in 2-1 win outweigh being physically overmatched? — SkimNews
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- Florian Wirtz created nine chances in Liverpool's 2-1 win at Brentford, the most by any player in a single Premier League match since Bruno Fernandes laid on 10 against Aston Villa in 2021.
- Wirtz leads the Premier League this season with 20 chances created, but seven of his nine against Brentford came from sideways or backward passes, and the 64 passes he attempted produced an xA of just 0.19.
- The $135 million signing was physically overwhelmed against Brentford, posting an 11.1% duel success rate, and is joint-leader in the Premier League for fouls committed with 14 — level with Ipswich defensive midfielder Sasa Lukic.
- Wirtz was still rated Liverpool's most effective player by Opta's expected possession value model, posting 0.37 xA and 0.31 non-penalty xG with nearly three shots per 90 this season.
- Victor Munoz struck Liverpool's equalizer after running onto a Wirtz through ball and finishing on his left foot, with the goal coming after a first-half red card for Jeremy Jacquet for headbutting Yarmoliuk.
- The piece concludes Wirtz is "neither a flop nor the man around whom a title winner might coalesce," offering 91st-percentile chance creation and 83rd-percentile shooting while lacking the Leverkusen-style driving runs Liverpool bought him for.
Why it matters: Liverpool's record signing remains a paradox: Wirtz tops the Premier League in chances laid on (20) yet seven of nine vs Brentford went backward for a combined xA of 0.19, while an 11.1% duel rate confirms the physical ceiling opponents keep exploiting. Until that gap closes, Liverpool's $135M man offers flashes rather than the contest-bending dominance his fee was meant to buy.
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