Liverpool have a creative genius and Arne Slot’s team still can’t score | OneFootball

Liverpool are failing their creative genius. How can you struggle this badly with a player this good?

Liverpool dropped even more points on Saturday as Brighton beat them 2-1. It's not really a surprise in the Premier League anymore - the Reds are very, very poor.

Arne Slot's team have now failed to win any of the league games in March. First came a 2-1 defeat at Wolves, followed by a 1-1 draw at home to Tottenham Hotspur. Now the defeat against Brighton. Three teams who were bottom half when playing Liverpool and two of them are outright the worst-performing in the league.

Even worse, though, is how Liverpool are getting their goals in these games. They're not coming from elite play - the one against Brighton was an absolute fluke off the back of a terrible backpass.

Against Spurs, it was a free-kick. We've seen many, many set-piece goals in 2026 as Liverpool turn to them as they struggle to find a way through.

Which is bizarre, in all honesty. Liverpool boast Florian Wirtz, after all, a player who created eight chances against Galatasaray in midweek. TNT Sports actually threw up a graphic in the Brighton match, highlighting how the German has created more chances in all competitions than any other Premier League player.

He is unquestionably a superstar and is in fact delivering largely what Liverpool bought him for. It's criminal, then, that they're failing to capitalise on his efforts whatsoever - and that's pretty much entirely because they're unable to allow for 'big' chances.

The Reds have an incredible amount of attacks and boast more touches in the opposition box than any other Premier League side. And yet, they sit 6th for big chances created and not a particularly strong 6th, either. Liverpool are actually closer to Crystal Palace in 7th than they are Manchester United in 5th.

But when you're not a strong team on the counter-attack and you also lack the kind of dynamic movement to open teams up around goal, the best you can hope for are 'regular' chances. Big chances become near-impossible.

Liverpool have a player who can deliver the goods in Wirtz but they lack any sort of system to take advantage of him. It's an unbelievable waste.

Florian Wirtz: Situation Summary

Form and Tactical Shift

Following a £115 million move from Bayer Leverkusen last summer, Wirtz has struggled with the "intensity and physicality" of the Premier League. He has recorded 4 goals and 2 assists in 27 league appearances. However, a recent injury to Hugo Ekitiké forced Arne Slot to deploy Wirtz in a more advanced, "selfish" role during yesterday's 2-1 defeat to Brighton. Despite the loss, Wirtz showed an upturn in form, with club legend Steven Gerrard backing him to "take the league by storm" next season.

Injury Recovery

Wirtz recently returned from a persistent back injury that sidelined him for much of February and early March. He made his first start since the injury in the 1-1 draw against Tottenham on 15 March and played the full 90 minutes against Brighton yesterday, signalling he has reached full match fitness.

Transfer Stance

Despite rumours linking him with a quick exit to Real Madrid, Liverpool sources have labelled Wirtz "untouchable." The club remains adamant that the 22-year-old is central to their long-term project and expects him to be a pillar of the team for the 2026/27 campaign.