Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka has praised Florian Wirtz’s mentality and has backed him to be a success at Liverpool.
The former Arsenal midfielder played alongside the German at Bayer Leverkusen, and when asked who he would pick as the best player between Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and his former teammate, Xhaka replied:
“Let’s stay with Flo Wirtz, I had the joy to be with him for three years. You will, a lot of English people will enjoy him because he’s unbelievable, not just with the ball, but the work without the ball. I didn’t see many No. 10s on his level without the ball and with the ball.”
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“To be in this age 20-21, to have this mentality, the work to put [in] day by day, before the training and after the training, to be angry if you don’t win a training session, this is Florian Wirtz. I saw him for two, and I have a lot of respect for Palmer as well, but because I was with Wirtz for two years, I know how much he can bring to the Premier League. Hopefully not against us, Sunderland, but the rest of the year I wish him just the best because he deserves that.”
Wirtz has backing from other players as well
Speaking about the 22-year-old’s early problems in adapting to life in the Premier League, former Tottenham midfielder Steffen Freund said that he expects his fellow countryman to be the “best” player at Liverpool within 18 months.
Based on the fact that Wirtz has yet to score or provide an assist for the Reds, some will raise an eyebrow at that claim, but there is no doubt that those who have seen him play week-in, week-out believe he does have the ability to succeed.
Liverpool need to find balance
The main issue for the Reds and head coach Arne Slot has been trying to accommodate all of the club’s new signings into the starting eleven.
It’s fair to say that things have not gone particularly smoothly, with Wirtz having already been shunted out of position and left on the bench for some games. It will take time for the right formula to emerge and a lot of patience will be required.
Read more about the Liverpool First Team Squad for 2025/26 here