It wasn’t all smiles for Liverpool’s £116 million star signing Florian Wirtz after Saturday night’s 2–0 win over Aston Villa at Anfield.
While the team celebrated another solid Premier League victory, the German midfielder found himself the unexpected star of a viral moment — and not for the best reason.
The Nutmeg That Stole the Show
Late in the game, with Liverpool comfortably ahead, Wirtz came on as a substitute in the 77th minute — still waiting to prove his worth under new manager Arne Slot.
But instead of making headlines for a brilliant assist or a game-changing run, the 22-year-old ended up being nutmegged by Villa’s Boubacar Kamara.
It all happened when Liverpool squandered a promising three-on-three counterattack.
Kamara stole the ball cleanly from Mohamed Salah, rolled it through Wirtz’s legs, and sprinted away to launch Villa’s own counter.
Wirtz, perhaps caught off guard, didn’t chase back — instead, he walked away with his head down, just 11 minutes after stepping onto the pitch.
Flashes of Potential — but Still Finding His Rhythm
To be fair, Wirtz wasn’t entirely anonymous. There were glimpses of the quality that made Liverpool pay a record fee for him.
He won the ball in midfield at one stage and charged forward with purpose — only for his pass to Cody Gakpo to veer out of play.
It was the kind of moment that summed up his night: lively but lacking sharpness.
What might be even more worrying for Wirtz, though, is just how dominant Liverpool’s midfield already looks without him.
Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, and Dominik Szoboszlai formed the core that helped Liverpool control much of the game — the same trio that carried them to last season’s Premier League title.
Praise for Liverpool’s Midfield Machine
Former England star Joe Cole, speaking on TNT Sports, was full of praise for the Reds’ midfield three.
“The midfield three, it’s so important that they stick together. They look so much better.
The balance was right,” he said. “Any team in the top six or eight, they have to play.”
The performance reflected in the post-match ratings, too. Daily Mail Sport awarded Szoboszlai an 8.5, Gravenberch an 8, and Mac Allister a 7.
Liverpool reporter Lewis Steele even described Gravenberch as “back to his best” after returning from injury — and scoring the Reds’ second goal of the night.
Wirtz Still Has Slot’s Backing
Despite his bench role and quiet showing, there’s no sign that manager Arne Slot has lost faith in his new signing.
The Dutch coach has repeatedly emphasized the importance of rotation, especially with a packed fixture list.
Many suspect he’s saving Wirtz’s energy for Tuesday’s Champions League clash against Real Madrid — a stage where the young midfielder has already shone this season.
European Form Offers Hope
While Wirtz is still searching for his first Premier League goal contribution, his Champions League numbers paint a brighter picture.
He provided two assists in Liverpool’s dominant 5–1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt and looked far more comfortable in that European setting.
Berbatov’s Belief in Wirtz’s Future
And not everyone is losing patience. Former Manchester United and Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov, who also made the leap from Bayer Leverkusen to the Premier League, is among Wirtz’s biggest supporters.
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand’s podcast, Berbatov said:
“I love him. He’s a fantastic player. He will be unbelievable, trust me.
Hopefully, he’ll have good people around him — agent, family, whatever. Hopefully, the coach sees his quality like everybody else does.
I’m sure that everybody sees his quality, and they’ll give him the time he needs to fit into the team. I guarantee you, he’s going to be a success.”
What’s Next for Liverpool’s Record Signing?
It’s still early days in Wirtz’s Liverpool story, and adjusting to the intensity of the Premier League often takes time — even for world-class talents.
Saturday’s nutmeg might have been a moment to forget, but if Berbatov’s words ring true, it could just be a small hiccup in what’s destined to become a much bigger success story.