Prior to Sunday’s game, Florian Wirtz had scored five goals and added two assists in 10 games. liverpool – His best performance for the club so far.

Signed from Bayer Leverkusen for £116m The Germany international was still looking to justify his price tag last summer and his start to 2026 has already made some progress in that regard.

In fact, only Igor Thiago and Viktor Gyokeres have scored more goals than Wirtz in all competitions. Premier League club since the beginning of the year.

However, the German midfielder struggled against Manchester City on Sunday. He only created one chance for his teammates and did not create any ‘big chances’.

Wirtz also missed a very good start to a goal for the Reds when he tried to drive the ball into the bottom corner rather than work hard, allowing Marc Guehi to have his tame shot blocked.

Despite a disappointing performance from the £116m signing, Cody Gakpo has been more frustrating than the former Bundesliga attacking midfielder.

Why Cody Gakpo is more frustrating than Florian Wirtz

Sunday’s game aside, Wirtz has turned his form around in a big way and is starting to show his quality at the top of the pitch, while Gakpo is currently in poor form.

The Netherlands international’s poor performance against Manchester City means he has not scored or assisted in his last five Premier League games, which also brings him to zero goals and zero assists in his last ten games in the Premier League.

He has only scored 3 goals and 1 assist in the past 20 games for the Red Army. His last goal was scored in the Champions League against Marseille.

The former PSV winger has been extremely inconsistent, scoring five goals in 19 Premier League starts, and his lack of final form, especially of late, is why he is such a frustrating player.

However, there is a Liverpool player at the other end of the pitch who is as frustrating as Gakpo and should ultimately leave in the summer.

Liverpool losers should finally move on

Gakpo is one of the 20 most expensive signings in the club’s history His £40m move Joining from PSV in 2023, Ibrahima Konate is also on the list as His £35m transfer From RB Leipzig.

Relevant

Liverpool’s most expensive signing ever

Liverpool have spent heavily on players in recent years, but who is their most expensive signing?

However, the France international’s time at Anfield may be coming to an end as his contract at the club expires at the end of the season.

Arne Slaughter It has been confirmed that the Red Army “still under negotiation” Konate has been discussed over a possible new contract with the club, but Rennes starlet Jeremy Jacquet has agreed to join in the summer and could be seen as a replacement for his compatriot.

The 20-year-old centre-back will join Liverpool ahead of the 2026/27 season, with Slott finally being able to move the former RB Leipzig man on a free transfer at the end of June.

Instead of giving him a new contract, the Reds could revamp their defense by parting ways with Konate, who has been as frustrating as Gakpo this season.

The France international was slow to react to Bernardo Silva’s equalizer and lost the ball to Erling Haaland, who passed the ball to the Portuguese midfielder.

Writer Graeme Kelly posted that the centre-back “constantly defeated“For a player of his stature, it seemed like a fair criticism of City’s equalizer after losing to Haaland.

Unfortunately, lost faceoffs and mistakes have been a theme of Konate’s Reds season, which is why his recent months have been as frustrating as Gakpo’s struggles in front of goal, as mistakes like Gakpo’s struggles in front of goal are tainting his performances.

The 26-year-old underdog has made six errors resulting in shots, goals or penalties in the Premier League and Champions League this season, taking his total to five such errors across two games in 2024/25.

This year, he’s made too many basic mistakes in contests and with the ball at his feet, and it comes at a terrible time as his contract is about to expire.

Liverpool will have to be ruthless to finally drop him from the squad when his contract expires in the summer as he has been too error-prone this season, and with Jacquet’s deal completed on deadline day, Slott is ready to add a new player when the summer transfer window opens.

Relevant

Liverpool are plotting a £35m move for a star Klopp calls “absolutely brilliant”

The Reds are considering a move for a defender.