Florian Wirtz kept finding space between the lines and turning Liverpool forward in their 2-1 win away to Brentford. On his own numbers, it was a huge answer to the scrutiny. He created nine chances from open play, the most any player has managed in a Premier League match over the past six seasons. Yet the bigger question from Brentford vs Liverpool did not disappear, because Liverpool still looked vulnerable without the ball.

Liverpool paid Bayer Leverkusen £116m in June 2025 for Wirtz, so nights like this are part of the expectation. He was heavily involved where it counts, finishing with a match-leading 12 final-third entries and 37 passes in the final third.

That creative load is why it is hard to argue he is the problem. Wirtz now has 18 Premier League chances created this season, level with Pascal Gross, and he has assisted in back-to-back games across all competitions for the first time for Liverpool. Even with only two goal involvements in seven league appearances, the chance creation is already there.

Murphy's concern about Liverpool's balance

Danny Murphy's criticism after the game was aimed at the structure around Wirtz, not at the player's ability. Speaking to BBC Sport, he said: "But I thought they looked too easy to play against. The spaces are too big."

He then got to the tactical point quickly: "They're playing with two wingers and Wirtz at 10, so they're relying heavily on the two midfield players to try and cover so much space."

That fits the feel of the game. Liverpool created plenty, especially after the break, with 14 of their 21 attempts coming in the second half. But Brentford still found routes through them, and Murphy's warning was specific enough to stick. "It was too easy for Brentford to play out and to get in behind. That would be the biggest concern today for me," he said.

Murphy went even further on the solution, saying: "Instead of a number 10, where Wirtz is struggling to impact games, put three midfielders in." That last part looks harsh after what Wirtz produced at Brentford, because his influence on the ball was obvious throughout. The more persuasive part of Murphy's case is the one about coverage behind him.

Wirtz's display does not end the debate

Wirtz's record from this match deserves proper context. In an away Premier League game, he became the first player to reach nine chances created in more than 15 years, since Samir Nasri registered 10 for Manchester City against Tottenham in August 2011.

You do not post numbers like that by drifting through a match. Wirtz was at the centre of Liverpool's best attacking work, and Andoni Iraola acknowledged the game stayed uneasy even while his side kept creating. He told BBC Sport: "We had a lot of chances. Even at the end, we had some counters where we were three against one and need to finish. When we go 2-1, every throw-in and every free-kick can be a problem."

That is probably the fairest reading of where Liverpool are. Wirtz looked exactly like an elite creator at Brentford, but Liverpool did not look fully convincing as a unit behind him. Murphy's final warning, "At the moment, it just looks a little bit open. Against better teams, you're going to get hurt," is not settled by one excellent away performance.

Liverpool moved up to fifth after the win. Their next game is at home to Villarreal in the Champions League on 20 October.

FAQ

Why is Florian Wirtz still being debated even after a big game for Liverpool?

Because the debate is not really about his creativity. Wirtz created nine chances from open play against Brentford, the most any player has managed in a Premier League match over the past six seasons. The concern raised by Danny Murphy is Liverpool's balance, with the team looking too open when Wirtz plays as a number 10 behind the front line.

Is Florian Wirtz producing enough for Liverpool in the Premier League?

His chance creation is already at an elite level. Wirtz has 18 Premier League chances created this season, level with Pascal Gross, and he also assisted in back-to-back games across all competitions for the first time for Liverpool. The gap is in direct output, with only two goal involvements in seven league appearances.

What did Danny Murphy say about Liverpool's shape with Wirtz at number 10?

Murphy's argument was that Liverpool look too easy to play against in that setup. He said the spaces are too big, that the midfield pair are being asked to cover too much ground behind two wingers and Wirtz, and that stronger teams will punish that lack of stability.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →