Former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey is convinced Florian Wirtz can have a similar impact to Philippe Coutinho at Anfield
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot celebrates with his backroom staff during the Premier League match at Burnley on September 14 2025
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot celebrates with his backroom staff during the Premier League match at Burnley on September 14 2025
(Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Florian Wirtz has been backed to follow in the footsteps of Phillipe Coutinho at Liverpool - provided he is given time to adapt to playing in the Premier League. Wirtz briefly became the Reds' most expensive signing when he arrived from Bayer Leverkusen in a £116million deal earlier in the summer.
While providing an assist on his competitive debut in the Community Shield defeat to Crystal Palace last month, the 22-year-old attacking midfielder has subsequently struggled for consistent form and has yet to play a full 90 minutes.
Liverpool have not possessed such a creative number 10 in their squad since Coutinho, who scored 54 goals and provided 43 assists in 201 appearances during five years at Anfield before moving to Barcelona for £142m in January 2018.
And former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey believes Wirtz can have a similar influence to Coutinho once he has become accustomed to the Premier League.
"We’ve got to give Wirtz time," said Heskey. "The Premier League is like no other.
"I’ve seen players come from so many leagues where they’re the best and then they struggle. You’ve got to give players time.
"I’ve watched a lot of Wirtz and he reminds me of Coutinho who finds great pockets. Wirtz just needs to get up to pace with the ferocity of the league.”
Liverpool have made a 100% start to their Premier League title defence and are already three points clear of Arsenal at the summit after four games.
And Heskey believes Arne Slot's side once again have the edge over the Gunners and deposed champions Manchester City.
"I think Liverpool have the most balanced squad out of the title rivals," he said, speaking to Aceodds.
"When you’re talking balance and being together for a while alongside new players gelling quickly, I think Liverpool.
"Arsenal have a really good squad but have they got the players who know how to get it over the line?
"Go back to United and Fergie’s last team (in 2013). That was a poor team but they knew how to get it done. They knew what it took mentally to win the league.
"I think that’s what Liverpool have over Arsenal. But you can’t count City out because they know what it takes to win the league."
The Reds start their Champions League campaign on Wednesday when they play host to Atletico Madrid.