07 Nov 2025 10:23:22
Genuine question.
Is there a harder worker than Szoboszlai in the prem? He is an absolute machine.
{Ed001's Note - Wirtz covered more ground than anyone on the pitch against Madrid. He is a grafter as well. Szobo was second in distance covered in the stats they put up after the match here.}
07 Nov 2025 11:05:49
The defensive stats won't show what a massive effect szobo has had on games, but he is a one man dynamo pressing the keeper, the center halves and the midfielders on his own, the awareness that he has of where his team mates are in the press and whether he should jump back or forth is insane, plus he has the pace and engine to eat up the ground pressuring a player even if he is many yards away. Dom was a big reason why Madrid couldn't pass the ball out the back, he smothered the center halves when they got the ball, and when they did manage to pass to a midfielder he smothered that midfielder.
Right now I shudder to think what would happen if he got injured, last year grav, Ali and Salah were by far our most important players, I would say Dom has probably become top of that list now because of the special profile that he has of having technique, physicality, intelligence and tactical awareness. Helps that he has great passing range and is excellent on set pieces, too!
It's interesting that the position he is best in (the 10) isn't his favourite position, he has said that he prefers being a tempo setting deep midfielder spraying passes.
07 Nov 2025 11:08:32
Ye can't understand why wirtz isn't getting the same plaudits for the amount of work he puts it.
07 Nov 2025 11:12:23
Ed001, you are correct I saw the same figures as you the other day. Wirtz covered 11.37km in 90 minutes. Szoboszlai covered 10.61km in 97 minutes. They were 1st and 2nd for distance covered with Tchouameni coming in at 3rd with 10.51km.
Remarkable from both of them to be honest, but Wirtz especially. What I would say about Dom is the intensity of his running is incredible. He doesn't just cover a lot of ground, the speed at which he covers it is astonishing.
07 Nov 2025 12:02:46
"Wirtz covered more ground than anyone on the pitch against Madrid. He is a grafter as well. "
Ed, I didn't even know Wirtz outworked Szobo which is mad on its own. This is why anyone who says Wirtrz is "weak" and is not good defensively either does not watch him play or watches him with preconceived notions about him. Wirtz is as great a baller as he is a grafter. Typical two-player, as they say in the NFL.
Shout out to Szobo as well. One of the best performing midfielders operating in Europe right now offensively and defensively, as well.
07 Nov 2025 12:05:59
2 x number 10's Vs City or the exact same line up and formation as Vs Real?
07 Nov 2025 12:12:16
Wirtz is the same age De Bruyne was when he joined Chelsea, people writing him off are insane. He has all the tools and most importantly he works hard, he's going to be an absolute megastar.
07 Nov 2025 12:57:55
Same lineup for me, we need Grav, Macca and Szobo in the midfield, City's midfield is very slight compared to ours, especially with Rodri a doubt for the game, let's bully Reijnders and Cherki off the park, those two hate the physical side of the game.
Get them out the game and there will be no supply to Haaland. Play Wirtz on the left wing and give him a free role again.
07 Nov 2025 13:15:38
Wirtz will come good.
He is a fantastic player, definitely overpriced but a great midfielder all the same .
07 Nov 2025 13:16:51
This is why I’m so bullish on Wirtz.
He is immaculate technically, his footballing IQ is about the best there is with the mentality to match, and he is one of the hardest workers.
There isn’t a single doubt in my mind that he becomes our main star and, probably, the face of the league in due time.
07 Nov 2025 13:51:20
I’ve watched the game back on the LFCTV channel and Ray Houghton was commentating. He said something about Wirtz which I really do agree with. He’s constantly on the move, coming short, going past the attackers, always looking for space. Sometimes I want to see him just stand still and the space will open up for him.
The problem with always moving is that you are always prompting a react from the defender. If you dart to your left, he will moved to cover you, if you come short he’ll either come with you or pass you on. That’s great for creating space for your team mates but means that you are always being marked.
If you just stand still sometimes then the defenders will get distracted by someone else’s movement and leave you in space. He looks to be so desperate to get involved that he is perpetual motion which I don’t think is always helping him.
07 Nov 2025 14:05:07
As long as it’s graft with a purpose and not just headless chicken graft, then fine.
07 Nov 2025 15:34:02
Avitohyes if you think Wirtz is a headless chicken then, that's your opinion. I would simply say that you need to watch im closesly whenever he plays and if you are honest, you'll ses how good he is in and out of possession.
07 Nov 2025 17:04:22
It was an observation for any player oli I didn’t focus on anyone.
It’s one of many spurious stats we have to endure these days. How far someone runs doesn’t reflect their impact on a game. it’s football not a half marathon.