Liverpool star Wirtz branded ‘biggest waste of money’ in Premier League history

By Ihuoma Inyama

Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz has been branded the “biggest waste of money” in Premier League history by pundit Jason Cundy, following his struggles since joining the club from Bayer Leverkusen.

Wirtz moved to Anfield for a reported £116 million in the summer of 2025, with Liverpool beating competition from Bayern Munich and Manchester City to secure his signature.

However, the Germany international has faced criticism over his performances, with his latest struggles coming to the fore during Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Cundy questioned the midfielder’s ability to cope with the physical demands of English football and accused him of lacking the confidence to influence matches.

“I think he could go down as the biggest waste of money the Premier League has ever seen, I genuinely do,” Cundy said.

“He looks scared, he looks frightened.”

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The pundit also compared Wirtz unfavourably with Manchester City playmaker Rayan Cherki, arguing that the Frenchman shows greater confidence and takes more responsibility during matches.

Cundy added that Liverpool needed to have an “uncomfortable conversation” about the midfielder’s performances, claiming that his technical ability had not translated into a meaningful impact on games.

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has also criticised Wirtz, questioning whether the 22-year-old has the mentality required to help Liverpool win matches.

Speaking on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast, Scholes said Wirtz appeared more focused on the finer details of his game than on producing goals and assists.

“He looks like a little kid playing men’s football,” Scholes said.

The criticism adds to the pressure on Wirtz to justify his transfer fee and establish himself as a decisive figure in Liverpool’s attack.