Two sides of the same coin: Agent 007 & a 'clown' who became a hero

There were many flops in the Premier League over the past few decades, but this one - in case it turns out to be a flop - would be the greatest ever. After seven games with Liverpool (six in the EPL and one in the Champions League), Florian Wirtz has yet to record either a goal or an assist and somehow contribute to his team's results!

The rival fans even named him "Agent 007" thanks to his poor stats, though he's clearly far from being the Scousers' James Bond. At least for now.

So far, he's invested himself in Liverpool's displays only with covered distance, and it's not something the Reds expected from the second most expensive EPL player ever, paid €125 million to Bayer Leverkusen.

Yet, the harsh truth shows that the forward who recorded 34 goals and 35 assists in his last two campaigns with the Bundesliga side is a shadow of his usual self.

Arne Slot left no stone unturned. Wirtz was a starter, came off the bench, played on the wing, played behind a striker, and nothing... Only a yellow card in 516 minutes on the pitch.

The only real contribution the German made was an assist in the Community Shield defeat to Crystal Palace, but even the Eagles' fans would agree that that competition is far from relevant.

Chiesa coming off the bench to replace Wirtz against Bournemouth (©Reuters/Peter Powell/Gallo Images)

And while Wirtz struggles, desperately trying to prove himself worthy of all the money Liverpool invested in him and show that he's not a flop, the Reds' former flop steps up to clean up the lavish acquisitions' mess and save the day.

Last season, Federico Chiesa was the laughing stock. He refused to extend the deal with Juventus during the 2024 June Transfer Window and ultimately joined Liverpool just two days before its end, as a respectable and yet cheap reinforcement paid only €12 million.

He seemed to have made the worst mistake of his life...

EPL added-time madness: Nine goals in as many games!

Chiesa made only 14 appearances in the entire season, clocking just a little over half an hour per game on average. He scored just two goals - one in each EFL Cup and FA Cup - and played only six Premier League games, which led to the public making fun of him and claiming he wouldn't get an EPL winners' medal.

Still, he patiently waited for his chance, and once he got it, he used it to the fullest, making himself stand out among Wirtz, Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike, and all the other top-priced players, for whose transfers Liverpool splurged ten times more than for his.

Slot used him as a sub in five Premier League games this season, giving him around 12 minutes on average. Not a problem for Chiesa! In 63 minutes on the pitch in the EPL, the Italian scored two goals - more than Wirtz and Isak combined, and the same as Mohamed Salah. His two assists in the EFL Cup 2-1 win against Southampton shouldn't be neglected either.

The Egyptian's added-time goal confirmed Liverpool's victory over Bournemouth, but it was Chiesa who netted a vital goal in the 88th minute. Had it not been for Eddie Nketiah, he would have been the Reds' hero against Crystal Palace, too, after levelling the score in the 87th minute.

In the end, Wirtz may wake up - everyone expects him to, aware of his immense quality - but Chiesa is the true champion at Anfield, because he's already won the toughest battle.