Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz is yet to contribute a goal or an assist since completing his big money move to Anfield this summer from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen
Florian Wirtz of Liverpool looks on
Florian Wirtz has been in the spotlight since joining Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen this summer
View Image
Liverpool manager Arne Slot and centre-back Virgil van Dijk have thrown their support behind Florian Wirtz. The 22-year-old has yet to make his mark for Slot's team since his £116million transfer from Bayer Leverkusen this summer.
Former Reds defender Jamie Carragher has suggested that the struggling midfielder should be benched, despite the fact that no other Premier League player has created more opportunities for their team in all competitions this season than the German.
Wirtz is now set to prove his worth when Liverpool face off against arch-rivals Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday afternoon (kick-off at 4:30pm). And Slot has explained why he thinks the lack of goals and assists for Wirtz has been slightly misleading so far.
"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," he 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.
"For Mo, this is 99 times out of 100 a goal. I have to say 98 out of 100 because the last time he got a ball like this was against Atletico Madrid from Florian Wirtz, but Mo hit the post.
"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."
Van Dijk, meanwhile, has stressed the importance of Wirtz settling into a new country and dressing room.
"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," he said.
"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. 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.
"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."
Content Image
Content Image
For the latest news and breaking news, visit liverpoolecho.co.uk/all-about/liverpool-fc. Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you.
Follow us on X @LivEchoLFC - the official Liverpool ECHO LFC X account - for all the latest LFC news as it happens in real time.
We're also on Facebook/LiverpoolEchoLFC - your must-see LFC news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Liverpool ECHO.
Listen to our podcasts by searching for 'Blood Red' wherever you get your podcasts.
Sign up for one of the Liverpool Echo's free daily and weekly newsletters on Liverpool FC by clicking here.