Smicer Says Liverpool Must Build Around Wirtz

Vladimir Smicer says Florian Wirtz must become Liverpool’s centrepiece under Andoni Iraola after his £116m arrival. Smicer notes the transfer fee and media pressure will follow Wirtz into the World Cup with Germany. Two years ago at the European Championship expectations were lower. He argues that at Bayer Leverkusen Wirtz thrived as a central creator with wingers and a striker. Liverpool have tried him on the right, left, as a striker and behind the striker. Smicer adds that spending 130 million euros requires playing a player in his favourite position. He warns that using Wirtz as a left‑winger would waste the money. He urges Andoni Iraola to place Wirtz behind the striker, give him freedom, and build the team around him.