‘Could happen right away’ – Sir Kenny Dalglish makes Florian Wirtz admission that will excite Liverpool fans
Liverpool legend Sir Kenny Dalglish has weighed in on Florian Wirtz’s slow start to life at Anfield.
Wirtz has faced criticism for the start he has made to his Reds career, failing to notch a goal in nine appearances across all competitions.
The Germany attacking midfielder scored 16 goals and produced 14 assists for Bayer Leverkusen last season, but he is yet to display that kind of form in the North West.
Meanwhile, fellow summer signing Hugo Ekitike has performed well, scoring three goals in five Premier League appearances, inviting further scrutiny on Wirtz.
Sir Kenny Dalglish believes Florian Wirtz could instantly click with Alexander Isak
Wirtz failed to get himself on the scoresheet once again when Liverpool were beaten 1-0 by Galatasaray in their second Champions League game on Tuesday, 30 September.
The 22-year-old has failed to make a goal contribution since producing an assist in the Reds’ Community Shield defeat to Crystal Palace in August.
Dalglish told Stick To Football on Thursday, 2 October, how Wirtz can hit form: “What he needs to do is the first thing. What he needs to do is what he is doing at the moment. He’s great at taking the ball into feet, he’ll open himself up and go past and beat you, but he’s still got control of it, or he’ll take it the other way back past you to go that way, and you’re going this way.
“He can see what’s in front of him. I saw (Alexander) Isak the other day, in the second half when he came on I think. He was talking to one of the other boys about his movement, what he would do. The boy’s sitting and listening to him. Once they get going on the same wavelength, by the way.
Host Gary Neville asked Dalglish: “How long did that take you and Ian Rush with the connection, because that’s what you’re talking about with Wirtz and Isak or Wirtz and Ekitike. How long will it take for that connection to happen?
The 74-year-old replied: “It could happen right away. It was training for us, it happened in training. That’s where you learn it from.”
Chelsea clash offers Florian Wirtz opportunity to kickstart Liverpool career
Liverpool signed Wirtz for an initial fee of £100million, so he has rightfully been met with criticism for his poor form in front of goal.
| Florian Wirtz in Premier League 2025-26 | Stats |
| Appearances | 6 |
| Goals | 0 |
| Expected goals (xG) | 1.03 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Expected assists (xA) | 0.77 |
However, only Cody Gakpo created more chances than the former Leverkusen ace when the Reds lost to Galatasaray, showing that he could be capable of producing the goods.
The Merseyside giants need an upturn in form after losing both of their last two games against Crystal Palace and Galatasaray in the Premier League and Champions League, respectively.
Wirtz can silence his critics, and fulfill Dalglish’s prediction, by linking up well with either Isak or Ekitike and inspiring Liverpool to victory over Chelsea.
Heading into their clash with Arne Slot’s men at Stamford Bridge, the West Londoners have lost both of their last two Premier League games, as a 2-1 defeat to Manchester United was followed by a 3-1 loss to Brighton, partly thanks to red cards shown to Robert Sanchez and Trevoh Chalobah in the respective fixtures.