Revealed: The real reason for Florian Wirtz’s ‘rough start’ at Liverpool
Florian Wirtz has had a difficult start to his Liverpool career after completing a move to the Premier League champions over the summer.
Wirtz moved to Anfield from Bayer Leverkusen, but has failed to reach the heights expected of him so far this season.
The midfielder is yet to record a single goal contribution in the Premier League for Arne Slot’s side.
Over the international break, Wirtz will look to gain some momentum with Germany, which he can then bring back with him to Merseyside.
Florian Wirtz is being hindered by Liverpool
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that Liverpool’s style of play is hindering Wirtz’s performances.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted that the 22-year-old is struggling with the pace of the game in the Premier League, as opposed to the Bundesliga.
Wirtz broke the British transfer record with his £116million move to Liverpool, before Alexander Isak superseded him just two months later with his own switch to Merseyside.
Wyness added that he disagrees with the notion that the price tag is adding too much pressure, and thinks that the German just needs time to settle in.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I don’t know if it’s the pressure anymore in terms of a fee. I do think it’s more about the style of play and the way he’s been receiving the ball as much as what he’s doing with it.
“There’s been a lot of talk about the way he used to receive the ball in certain ways with his last club. Now at Liverpool, he’s not quite receiving it as easily, and he’s finding the different pace of the Premier League difficult.
“I think there is a player in there. There’s no doubt about it. It’s a question of adapting to the pace of the Premier League, which is still going to be faster than he’s used to.
“At the moment, it’s been a rough start, and those tags are tough to shake away, but I don’t think it’s the money that gets in a player’s head.
“They know themselves if they’re playing well, and their teammates know if they’re playing well. He’s got to inspire that confidence from his teammates, and that’s really the pressure.
“There is a settling-in period, and although the media is talking about the fee, that isn’t the question. Players are very honest about how they’re feeling and how they’re performing. I think Wirtz is going to need some time.”
Arne Slot is struggling to get the best out of Wirtz
Last season, at Bayer Leverkusen, Wirtz was one of the most exciting and talented players in the whole of Europe, and his numbers backed that up.
Across the course of the campaign, the German international managed to score 10 Bundesliga goals as well as picking up 13 assists.
However, since his move to Liverpool, his output has dried up dramatically, and Slot still hasn’t worked out how best to utilise the young talent.
The Reds have had to tweak their system slightly to fit Wirtz in, who plays in a slightly more advanced role than their other midfielders, and as of yet, it hasn’t been providing results.
With the likes of Isak, Mo Salah, and Hugo Ekitike as well, Slot has to find a way of getting the best out of all his attacking players.
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