Germany legends Oliver Bierhoff and Oliver Kahn have both had their say on Florian Wirtz's struggles since joining Liverpool.
Florian Wirtz arrives at Brentford's stadium.
Florian Wirtz has endured a tricky start to life at Liverpool.
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Oliver Bierhoff has become the latest Germany legend to leap to the defence of Florian Wirtz - in the midst of a slow start to his Liverpool career. The playmaker has been the subject of ongoing scrutiny and criticism following his £116m move from Bayer Leverkusen.
The 22-year-old boasts three assists from 13 appearances since joining the Reds, but is yet to register a goal contribution in the Premier League. Meanwhile, he has recently found himself utilised only as a substitute for Liverpool's clashes with Everton, Chelsea and Manchester United.
Arne Slot's men have lost five of their last six matches, in all competitions, to only enhance the scrutiny on the Reds' underperforming stars.
Wirtz was one of eight new senior arrivals at Anfield this summer as Liverpool went on a £450m spending spree - off the back of winning the Premier League title.
Admittedly, such business came against the caveat of the Reds also receiving roughly £200m from player sales as eight members of Slot's title-winning squad also moved on.
Bierhoff, who previously served as a technical director of the Germany national team and scored the goals that won his country EURO 1996 as a player, started his career in the Bundesliga, but spent his best years in Italy with Ascoli, Udinese and AC Milan.
And the former striker is confident Wirtz will prove himself in England - sharing his belief that the extent of Liverpool's summer transfer business has had a negative impact on the playmaker as he called upon his own experience of playing abroad.
"They've probably bought too many players who have the ambition to play," he said on Sky Germany's 'Triple - the Hagedorn Football Talk' show. "But, with him, I'm not worried about him asserting himself, based on what I've seen of him.
"He's a brilliant footballer, has the right timing and the right vision, and that's why you have to give him a little time.
"You used to say in Italy that the first season doesn't count at all."
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Meanwhile, fellow Germany icon Oliver Kahn says Wirtz is yet to fully integrate at Liverpool as he shared why he believes the midfielder is yet to replicate his form for Bayer Leverkusen in England.
"The way he moves around, you always get the feeling he hasn't fully integrated yet," the former goalkeeper said. "You see it with the players, when a goal is scored and who they celebrate with.
"He doesn't quite fit yet - and that's my feeling. He still needs a bit of self-confidence to move confidently in this environment with so many top players."