07 Sep 2026 12:11:01
Highly unlikely to happen, but who'd swap Wirtz for Olise? I would.
07 Sep 2026 12:41:09
At this point, it would be yes. He’s so lightweight it’s unbelievable. I’d hope by the end of the season my decision would be different and that Iraola has transformed him into a much better player.
07 Sep 2026 12:45:06
Got a feeling these new owners will wanna make a massive statement signing.
Olise could be it.
07 Sep 2026 12:47:46
If his form stays at the level it is now, I wouldn’t hesitate end of season Rome!
I’ve still high hopes that Iraola will get him playing and get the best out of him, but I’m having doubts at present.
07 Sep 2026 12:49:28
@Longthing. A better player by how? His first touch is still unbelievable. But he is no Coutinho. You need a workhorse midfield behind him to function. We don't have one.
07 Sep 2026 13:43:45
I like Wirtz and find that he does better than people give him credit for. Nonetheless, I feel swapping him for Olise and playing a 4-3-3 would be better for the team balance, and would likely help our current midfield play better.
Now, since it seems Iraola is a 4-2-3-1 guy, the most likely scenario (which is highly unlikely) is: sell Gakpo, buy Olise, Wirtz stays and buy two new midfielders who cover the forwards better, but as you can see, the disruption is larger.
07 Sep 2026 13:44:20
Want the lad to do well but he’s a big let down, makes so many mistakes and just looks like he needs too much time on the ball.
Reckon Gakpo in the 10 would be twice the player.
07 Sep 2026 13:44:25
Olise did not do jack in the PL. Not even that much for Palace and is now agreed dominating in the eternal best team in Germany right now. Not sure that is the flex many think it is.
Whereas Wirtz dominated the Bundesliga for 2 years playing for the bang average Leverkusen to the point of becoming a double-winning Invincible plus two-time German Player Of The Year.
Wirtz is currently working hard to get better in a new team and a new system in the hardest league in the world.
Sorry, I don't fall for the shiny new object that easily. The comparison is severely flawed, imo.
07 Sep 2026 13:59:40
You seem to be in the minority, Oli. Up till now Wirtz has been a big let down. Hope he proves me wrong, but I think he could be gone by the end of the season.
P.S. Olise did enough for one of the greatest teams in the world to buy him. I respect their judgment over yours, Oli, with the utmost respect.
07 Sep 2026 14:04:51
Wirtz needs 3 things - 1) speed & running in behind, 2) early passes from defence/midfield and 3) to not have his space crowded by his midfield teammates.
We have hopefully sorted 1) with the signings of Barcola and Munoz.
2) & 3) need work and/or investment. The jury is out on whether our senior mids are up to that task. We shall see.
The upside of Wirtz working out is huge. I think it is worth persevering with.
{Ed025's Note - Wirtz needs one more thing FPF..Dropping, unless he can up his game significantly and contribute a hell of a lot more mate..
07 Sep 2026 14:20:43
I’m with Oli. Olise doesn’t work hard enough. He would not be an Iraola player.
Olise = Sancho.
07 Sep 2026 14:33:11
I'd swap Wirtz for Bellingham.
07 Sep 2026 14:34:34
I’m with Oli as well. I think Wirtz had a good game Friday. No assist or goal but he put a shift in and was on the front foot. Yes, could have played the ball a tiny bit quicker but I wouldn’t swap him for me.
People are on his back because
Of his price tag, which has nothing to do with him. I'll judge him end of the season but for now I think he’s doing well and can see him looking a bit sharper game by game.
07 Sep 2026 14:26:19
Ed025 - he's working his knackers off. Ran almost 12km on Friday. Don't think dropping him helps anyone apart from those who want the story. We need to persevere while the double-pivot settles into the way Iraola wants them to play and Barcola & Munoz get more games.
{Ed025's Note - he seems a bit lightweight for the prem to me FPF, yes there is a player in there but he has failed to show it in a Liverpool shirt for me mate..
07 Sep 2026 14:42:04
Defo a player there in Wirtz. Give it time, we had a useless manager last year and it's only been 3 games with Iraola. Positive signs are there for all players to improve.
Let's not forget Wirtz is only 23.
I remember fans getting on Szoboszlai back in a similar way in his first year.
07 Sep 2026 14:47:38
I have been saying all summer I really hope we don’t sign Olise. He is not an AI player, as he is only interested when he has the ball. I would actually rather Minteh, as at least he would work for the team.
I still have faith in Wirtz, he is very good I thought against Forest. He needs to stand up now though and some fight and guile.
07 Sep 2026 15:03:17
Hope he improves! He has lost possession most of all Premier League players after the first 3 games. If the stat was real.
07 Sep 2026 15:28:08
I was one of the few who was a bit nervous about us signing Wirtz. I’d not seen much of him apart from when we played Leverkusen and he was totally anonymous.
Added to that, we’ve been stung before buying ‘the best player in Germany’. It was a huge risk.
That being said, I think we need to give him time. The talent is there, we need to allow him to grow into the role and the team needs to help him.
It’s no coincidence that he played well in the first half an hour against Ipswich when we squeezed up the pitch, won the ball early and got it forward quickly.
Both Wirtz and Isak were receiving the ball where they can do some damage and both looked dangerous.
Then Virgil dropped deeper, and we went back to slow, sideways and backwards passing, allowed Ipswich to set and Wirtz and Isak got squeezed out of the game.
When the team is functioning properly for 90 minutes I think he’ll be a star and Isak will score for fun.
07 Sep 2026 16:45:53
Rome, have you forgotten Bayern wanted Wirtz? He will come good, he's too talented not to.
07 Sep 2026 16:47:13
If you have a player who has lots of talent, in terms of ball skills, and he works very hard for the team, he will definitely come good.
I bet Iraola loves Wirtz. I’m telling you. That first goal against Ipswich, Wirtz started the press exactly like Iraola wants him to. Press the ball and close down half the pitch, make him pass to the right (in this case) by shutting down his options on the left. Wirtz did that.
Mac Allister backed it up by attacking the man who received the pass, and Kerkez benefitted.
That’s exactly as per Iraola’s play book: shut down their options and make them pass to the side of the pitch where we outnumber them. Perfectly executed. As a manager, that’s the type of player you need.
Flicks, tricks, all that is great, but you need a player who works hard and does what the manager asks for.
07 Sep 2026 17:12:43
Wirtz ran 12km but that was only trying to win the ball back after he lost it.
07 Sep 2026 17:51:50
Can’t see Olise wanting to be backup for Munoz.
{Ed025's Note - to be honest John, Brennan Johnson wouldn,t be back up to Munoz Mate...and hes awful..
07 Sep 2026 18:21:04
Gonzo, I really hope you're right, mate. There are no more excuses for him this season. He really needs to step up and start bossing games. There have been loads of talented players, over the years, who just can't hack the English game.
07 Sep 2026 19:21:22
Ideally I wouldn't swap Wirtz but I'd move mountains to get Olise in as that would be a formidable front line. I think anybody talking about not wanting Olise bases their opinion on the handful of games they saw him play in the PL and should be completely ignored.
{Ed666's Note - I hope Wirtz comes good I really do because I like the kid and think he just needs some luck to kick start his Liverpool career. But if you offered me a Wirtz and Olise swap now I’d have to say it’s a hard YES
07 Sep 2026 20:33:05
Luck just isn't there for him Ed, his assist was class but ended up being offside so it's like it didn't happen.
{Ed666's Note - I hope it happens for him
Mate I really do..there’s a magician in there somewhere..mostly I want him to succeed so he can shut those cretin pundits up
07 Sep 2026 23:52:15
Likewise Ed, I think his footballing brain is next level, but the rest of the team aren't quite in tune with him. The amount of times last season he would make the slightest little off-the-ball movement, just a step thisway or that, completely loose his man and free up space only for nobody to find him, and I just thought that wouldn't happen at Leipzig where everyone was constantly looking to play through him, they were so aware of his creativity.
Hopefully it clicks soon, for everyone. Barcola, Isak and Olise in next summer with Wirtz behind them, that is a devastating prospect. A boy can dream.
{Ed666's Note - Olise is the one I’d want also because he can play as a 10 and on the right side equally well. Let’s manifest an a Olise transfer Chewy.