20 Apr 2026 03:42:11
Anyone else wish we signed Cherki instead of Wirtz? That was the definition of a player taking the game by the scruff of the neck and showing he wants to impact the game.
Worlds away from another passive Wirtz performance. Honestly I keep waiting for him to explode but he is just so lightweight and passive - he visibly also shrunk yesterday after a few challenges and just started passing backwards. Big concerns on if he will make it with us tbh.
On another note - cannot believe Jones’ performance is so polarising. Best player on the pitch for me.
Played with passion and arrogance - really set the tone for the team. Not too focused on a few mins at the end when he was visibly gassed and didn’t track back from all the work he had put in. Not a right back but if he plays like that every week he definitely deserves a new contract and to be in the squad.
Also re Salah - have we missed a trick here (myself included) thinking he is finished. Playing 10 yards closer to goal he will get chances and does still show a burst of speed. Could be a massive victim of Slots tactics this year.
20 Apr 2026 05:37:30
No, absolutely not at all.
20 Apr 2026 05:55:04
I thought about that yesterday but ended up with the following conclusion. If Cherki was here he would be struggling like Wirtz has, and I give you my reasons:
1. We don't have runners to give Wirtz space. Cherki would have suffered the same.
2. At the beginning of the season, Wirtz always played the intricate pass, but no one seemed to pick it up. It would have been the same with Cherki.
3. For some reason, and that reason seems to be Slot, every LFC player is looking to pass sideways or backwards. And the famous control that Slot preaches just makes the team play extremely slow.
4. The best stats from Cherki came when Haaland was firing (1st half of the season), and when he played behind willing runners (past few games behind Doku and Semenyo).
Wirtz would have done similar.
The only thing I would argue that Cherki would have done a little bit better, is that he tends to go to the right side of the pitch compared to Wirtz, who goes more to the left side. And our team tends to occupy the same space as Wirtz (Ekitike, Gakpo and McAlister), while it wouldn't have been the same with Cherki, who tends to occupy the right side. Nonetheless, system, spacing, and quality of play(ers) this season would have been issues nonetheless.
In conclusion, while I agree that Wirtz is more lightweight than Cherki, you put Cherki in the same situation as Wirtz and I don't think he would have had a different impact.
20 Apr 2026 06:07:52
Cherki has had a better season no doubt.
I like him, he has an aggression about him.
Wirtz is badly managed at the moment, but I agree, he has been poor and would have to really step up to make it at Liverpool next season.
20 Apr 2026 06:33:24
Wirtz is generally being played in or around his favoured position, but hasn’t done enough. I don’t particularly feel he’s going to produce anything when he gets the ball.
There have been other players in the Premier League who didn’t have great physicality like Coutinho, Zola, or Silva who produced a lot more, more frequently, and it wasn’t just because of the coaching.
They had better players around them, and essentially they were better players. He’s young though, so hopefully he improves.
The bigger worry, though, for me is Isak. He just looks weak and lacking in every department. I hope we see a big improvement next season.
20 Apr 2026 07:18:11
Wirtz has been v disappointing overall. Granted team has been v poor all season, which doesn't help. He just doesn't do enough for the ability he has, some nice bits of play at times where u can see the ability he has but not enough of substance.
I can't remember the last time he had a decent attempt on goal.
In saying all that, I would like to see what he like next season when hopefully team is in a better place.
20 Apr 2026 07:22:48
I may be misremembering, but Coutinho did well at first, but then his play dipped like everyone else before rebounding under Klopp. So, replying to Overkill's post, I would think that you are missing some variables like coaching and team performance that help the lightweight.
Who, this season, has done well besides Ekitike and Szobo?
There are too many variables, and if the forwards had better play, maybe Wirtz would have played better.
20 Apr 2026 07:25:58
Wirtz needs time to adapt. Yes, he was touted as a generational talent, but let's not forget his age. Lots of players have needed a season or 2 to find their feet.
If we could have drip-fed him into a team that was in form and playing well, I'm sure he would have been better.
But it's been more like baptism by fire, constantly under pressure. I feel for the lad.
Hopefully next season we see the true Wirtz after a great World Cup showing.
20 Apr 2026 07:59:14
The thing I like about Wirtz is that he has a Salah-esq level of quality about him. Even yesterday, when he played terrible, he created our best chance of the game for Gakpo (which he spurned) and created the only chance Isak had all game (which he hit tamely).
It's the mark of a good player, when even on an off day they can still have an impact.
Had Gakpo and Isak both scored, we'd probably not be having this conversation.
I think the best of Wirtz is yet to come. I like Cherki, but he doesn't press like Wirtz does, and he's also a bit of a showboater.
20 Apr 2026 08:46:43
The best of Wirtz better come Mks, because up until now he's been an underwhelming and costly addition.
20 Apr 2026 08:57:33
Hahaha, Cherki over Wirtz, my goodness. Cherki has technical quality but that's very much All he brings to the table.
Wirtz is being managed horrendously, which genuinely explains 100% of his bad season.
Cherki is nowhere near as good, simple as that.
{Ed025's Note - based on what though Lowe?, Cherki whether you rate him or not effects games and has scored some vital goals, Wirtz has done very little for me mate and has been very ineffective if not sloppy in most games, he may come good of course but lets be honest...up to now hes been crap...yes crap..
20 Apr 2026 09:18:04
We can only go on this season, Lowe, and on the evidence, it's certainly not laughable to say Cherki is a better buy than Wirtz. Hopefully next season is different.
20 Apr 2026 09:18:44
Wirtz's form really picked up before the minor injury he had.
Since returning from that injury, he's been not as good and looks shot of confidence.
20 Apr 2026 09:28:26
Lol. No chance. Put Wirtz in that City team and he would be up for the Ballon d'Or.
Slot and his tactics are the problem - not Wirtz.
{Ed025's Note - at the moment hes in line for the toilet door SK..
20 Apr 2026 10:07:50
When you have midfield players in the team that could not pass wind, then Wirtz's game suffers. The passing was awful yesterday, and has been for all season. Players are having far too many touches before passing the ball, touches they don't need.
I would have loved Wirtz to have played under Klopp and his teams, then you would see the difference in him. The likes of Warton from Palace would suit Wirtz and Isak's game. He would feed them with his passing ability. YNWA
20 Apr 2026 10:30:00
Cherki's and Wirtz stats are actually very similar, however one plays with Doku, Haaland, Semenyo, and one plays with Gakpo, a 30% fit Isak, and a terrible midfield behind. He doesn't have Rodri to give him that freedom of mind. Can't believe some are writing off Wirtz already, that's so short sighted it's beyond stupid. Apologies, but it's the truth.
{Ed025's Note - i dont think anyone is writing him off ASB, but sometimes you have to call it as you see it mate and he has not been very good at all imo..
20 Apr 2026 11:34:36
Dominican_fan, you have nailed it completely. There is no way on this earth, Cherki shines as he is doing now at City, under the current pathetic tactics of Slot at LFC. This is just a fact that people seem to wanna conveniently ignore, IMO. I saw Wirtz do a madness in Leverkusen's invincible season, was two-time Bundesliga Player of the Year and the hottest talent on the market last summer, all the things Cherki wasn't. Therefore, I ain't picking Cherki over Wirtz. Never have. Never will.
Also, people going at Wirtz have conveniently forgotten that City wanted Wirtz first and he rejected them to come to us.
Cherki was their sloppy seconds that they had to make do with. Now had Slot put the right system and players in place for Wirtz to thrive, and he was failing then, I'm okay with that and will concede the point.
The moment that is not the case, the comparison with Cherki goes dead in the water cos the variables, like you mentioned, have to be considered. All of them, not just the ones that do suit an agenda. Therefore, it seems people are harshly judging Wirtz by using and ignoring actual variables that suit their narrative. Just my opinion.
20 Apr 2026 12:43:11
Some would say Robbo and Salah were sloppy 2nds.
20 Apr 2026 12:51:05
I think one thing we have to admit is that Cherki really is quite a joy to watch, he's a languid maverick of a player and a showman rather than the robotic machine that most modern players tend to be, and you have to give credit to Pep for allowing him to express himself rather than shackling him the way he did with Doku and Grealish previously.
20 Apr 2026 12:59:05
Cherki has had some fantastic individual moments, which shows an ability to produce despite what's going on around him, whereas Wirtz, at the moment, looks to be the type that depends very much on fitting into a system where he's a major focal point, where the players around him are more in tune with his style and intentionally look to play through him. He's clearly not getting that at the moment.
The jury's out until (hopefully) Xabi comes in and gets Wirtz back to his best, but right now, you'd have to be mad not to recognize that Cherki's game is less dependent on the performances of those around him, and based on this season alone his ability to individually influence a game is certainly higher. Next year, Fowler willing, that will change.
20 Apr 2026 13:01:41
I think it would be nice to see Wirtz and indeed Isak with a new manager and see if there's anything different. Writing off those two players under Slot may short change us dramatically. The key is to have an actual plan and work on it with training sessions.
It may be quite a go to get back to challenging again, but if you see progress that's at least a direction. Yesterday was a one off game, but I think it's fair to say we don't see progress under Slot and these coaches.
20 Apr 2026 13:01:45
Ekitike has shown some promise, but everyone else bought in the summer has underperformed for me. If someone offered money back on them, I'd bite their hand off for it.
20 Apr 2026 13:15:16
Not instead of. I remember once we had wrapped up Ekitike and Wirtz, I was hoping that our next signing was going to be another winger and my hope was Cherki or Semenyo.