Barnes says Liverpool must build team around Florian Wirtz

Liverpool legend John Barnes has stated that the club must restructure its attacking play to revolve around Florian Wirtz. The former England international believes the German midfielder needs to become the central figure in the team's setup to replicate the impact seen at Manchester United.

Wirtz joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2025 for a British record fee of £116 million. His debut season at Anfield was difficult, as the club struggled to integrate him effectively despite having just won the Premier League title. This period of transition saw Liverpool finish fifth in the 2025-26 Premier League season, a result that led to the exit of manager Arne Slot.

Barnes suggested that the presence of players with overlapping roles, such as Cody Gakpo and Hugo Ekitike, prevented Wirtz from exerting his full influence. He noted that while Wirtz performs well whenever he features, the squad must adapt its style to maximize his contributions alongside Isak.

The comparison was drawn to Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes, who recorded 21 assists last season. Barnes argued that the difference in output lies in how the teams are structured, noting that Manchester United directs their play through the Portuguese attacking midfielder. He maintained that if Liverpool shifts their tactical focus to play through Wirtz, the midfielder can achieve similar statistical success.

Liverpool are now preparing for the 2026-27 Premier League season. Their opening fixture is an away match against Newcastle at St James' Park on August 23.