Wirtz Under Pressure at Anfield, 17-Year-Old Farkas Ready to Take the Number 7 Shirt

Liverpool face a major dilemma in attacking midfield: Florian Wirtz, the most expensive signing in the club's history, has yet to deliver performances worthy of his £116 million (around Rp2.1 trillion) price tag. Now, attention turns to Erik Farkas, a 17-year-old midfielder who has just signed a professional contract and is seen as a serious threat to Wirtz's position.

Wirtz, signed from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2024, has managed only eight goals and assists in the Premier League in his debut season. That figure is far below the standard he set in the Bundesliga, and also trails the record of Luis Diaz—the previous owner of the number 7 shirt—who scored 18 goals and assists in the 2024/25 season. Pressure has mounted further after club legend Jamie Carragher judged Wirtz undeserving of a starting XI place based on recent form, especially after the narrow win over Bournemouth.

Manager Andoni Iraola has so far continued to trust Wirtz, but the result is just one assist from five Premier League starts. Liverpool also lack an established replacement at the number 10 position, especially after Harvey Elliott was loaned out again. This situation opens opportunities for academy players, as already given to Trey Nyoni, James McConnell, and Lewis Koumas in recent weeks.

Erik Farkas, Hungarian-born and playing for England's youth teams, was described by journalist Bence Bocsak as "one of the most unique profiles in English football" and "ideal for the number 10 position". His flexibility as a number 8 or 10 makes him seen as a long-term successor. This season, he has scored in the last three U18 Premier League matches, including against Burnley and Derby, and recorded one assist.

"Farkas is the type of technical midfielder who can become a first-team star. The way he moves on the pitch is like an archetypal Spanish midfielder," Bocsak said.

For Liverpool fans in Indonesia, this situation reflects how top European clubs are starting to turn to academy players to curb transfer costs and maintain squad sustainability. The Indonesian league faces a similar challenge in developing young talent, albeit with limited resources. Farkas's success in breaking into the first team would signal that youth development pathways remain relevant amid an inflating transfer market.

If Wirtz continues to decline, Iraola may have no choice but to give Farkas or another young player a chance. The question is whether Liverpool dare to take the risk of relying on a 17-year-old in a competition as tough as the Premier League, or whether they will seek an instant solution in the winter transfer window?