Florian Wirtz has yet to score or register an assist in a Liverpool shirt since his blockbuster summer transfer from Bayer Leverkusen but key figures at Anfield continue to back him
Florian Wirtz
Florian Wirtz is yet to score or assist a goal since joining Liverpool in the summer
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Arne Slot has leapt to the defence of Florian Wirtz following the attacking midfielder's slow start to life at Anfield, pointing out that most players require time to adjust to life in the Premier League.
Anticipation was high after Liverpool beat off Bayern Munich to clinch a £116million deal to bring Wirtz, 22, to the club from Bayer Leverkusen following his electric form in the Bundesliga. However, the Germany international has failed to record a single goal contribution during his nine appearances for the champions to date, leading to scrutiny from some quarters.
Slot, though, argues that Wirtz's lean spell is simply a case of him acclimatising to life in a new league rather than anything more sinister - and that he should already have a hatful of assists to his name.
"If you've been brought in for so much money, people look mainly at goals and assists, but I can tell you he could be on six or seven assists already," the Dutchman told Sky Sports. "If you look at the passes he's played to his team-mates which unfortunately didn't lead to goals, one of the greatest examples is the Chelsea game where after one minute [since coming on] he had this great flick to Mo Salah."
Slot continued: "He's been a bit unlucky with the finishing when he's given his team-mates chances but, in general for a 22-year-old, it's quite normal that you have to adjust to going to another country let alone going to the Premier League."
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Those comments were echoed by Virgil van Dijk, who knows only too well the pressures that accompany a big-money move. He joined Liverpool for £75m from Celtic back in the January transfer window in 2018 and has gone on to win the game's biggest prizes in a red shirt.
"The main thing is when new players are coming in, as when I came in for a lot of money, is that you feel welcomed, you feel calm, your home situation is sorted, your family is happy. If that is good, then you'll be able to excel," the Liverpool captain added.
"On top of that, in any profession, you need a bit of time to adjust, to get to know your colleagues, what they like to do, and also the demands of the Premier League and being at Liverpool. It's absolutely normal.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot (left) and Florian Wirtz (right)
Arne Slot and Virgil van Dijk have defended the Germany international
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"We live in a world where it's difficult to get time from the outside world, but as long as we, and Liverpool, are looking at the way I'm looking at it, that we want to improve, then I'll be absolutely fine."
Liverpool smashed the British transfer record to sign Wirtz during an unprecedented summer of spending but Alexander Isak (£125m) ended the window as the Reds' most expensive capture. Van Dijk pointed out that all of the club's new signings, not just Wirtz, need to be given the time to settle in.
He added: "I don't think it's good to focus purely on Florian in this case. The quality that he, Alexander (Isak), Hugo (Ekitike), Milos (Kerkez) has, there is no doubt about that.
"It's just about being together, improving and being successful. Every day that goes by in training or the games is another opportunity to get close together."
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