John Barnes: Liverpool Must Build Their Team Around Florian Wirtz
Liverpool legend John Barnes believes Florian Wirtz can become the central creative force at Anfield if the team is built around him. Wirtz joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen for a then-British record £116 million fee in 2025, but struggled to consistently influence games during a difficult debut campaign. Liverpool finished fifth in the 2025-26 Premier League season, leading to Arne Slot's exit as manager. Barnes said Wirtz is his favourite player at the club and argued that Liverpool must adapt their system to get the best from him. He compared the German playmaker to Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, saying Wirtz could deliver similar numbers if Liverpool channel more of their attacking play through him. Liverpool open their 2026-27 Premier League campaign away to Newcastle on August 23.
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