Emile Heskey thinks Liverpool have a bigger problem than one difficult debut season from Florian Wirtz. He says the team need more energy, more running power and a change in style, after a campaign that left them short of high intensity.

Wirtz's numbers are not empty. He has 7 goals and 10 assists in 49 appearances across all competitions, and 5 goals and 3 assists in 33 Premier League matches. Heskey still feels the German has looked short of power at times, even if he is finding smart positions and pockets of space.

Why Heskey wants a style change

Heskey did not frame this as a simple case of one new signing settling in. He said: "I'd like to think he'll come good. He's just found it very difficult so far. I think Liverpool need to look at a change in their style of play to bring back a sense of energy and high intensity to get running at teams again."

That is the point worth taking seriously. Liverpool's issues are being described as structural, not just about whether Wirtz has hit the ground running. Heskey also said: "Liverpool need someone who can get around midfield. Alexis Mac Allister looks like his legs have gone a little bit. That might be harsh on him but that's what I see."

He backed that up by singling out Elliot Anderson as the kind of mobile, energetic midfielder Liverpool should be chasing. The view is blunt, but it is hard to dismiss completely when the team are being asked to play with more pace and aggression than they have shown.

Curtis Jones and the summer churn

Heskey's wider point pulls Curtis Jones into the picture as well. He said: "I like Curtis Jones. He's nice and mobile but doesn't play enough for me."

Jones has one year left on his contract, and that alone means the conversation around him is not going away. The verified numbers show 34 Premier League appearances and 1 goal, 2 assists, so this is not about a player being frozen out entirely. It is about whether Liverpool see him as a regular part of the next midfield cycle or someone who could move if the summer starts to churn.

There is also disagreement in the reporting around the destination talk. One source says Inter talks took place in Monte Carlo, while another frames the story as Jones prioritising a move to Milan. Either way, the same basic issue stands: Liverpool are again being pushed into midfield surgery.

That surgery talk is not coming out of nowhere. Liverpool's verified standing is fifth after 37 matches, which is exactly the sort of finish that turns summer planning into a rebuild exercise. If Wirtz is going to be judged fairly, it probably has to be in a team that gives him more support, not one that keeps asking him to carry the creative load alone.

If Liverpool do change style and add more legs in midfield, Wirtz's first season will look less like a verdict and more like an awkward start. If they do not, the questions around him, Jones and the rest of the midfield will only get louder.

FAQ

Why does Emile Heskey think Liverpool need a midfield reset?

Heskey says Liverpool need more energy, more running power and a change in style. He also argues they need heavy surgery in midfield after a season that left them short of energy and high intensity.

How has Florian Wirtz performed in his first Liverpool season?

Wirtz has 7 goals and 10 assists in 49 appearances across all competitions. In the Premier League he has 5 goals and 3 assists in 33 appearances, which is why the case for patience is being tied to adaptation.

What has Emile Heskey said about Curtis Jones' future at Liverpool?

Heskey likes Jones and says he is nice and mobile, but he also feels he does not play enough. Jones has one year left on his contract, so his future is part of Liverpool's wider summer churn.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →