Our Liverpool fans' jury look ahead to a big weekend for the Reds and are looking toward one man in particular to shine
Florian Wirtz shone for Germany in the international break
Florian Wirtz shone for Germany in the international break
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The international break is finally (almost) over. And Liverpool will return to action at Anfield on Saturday afternoon when they welcome Nottingham Forest to Merseyside.
The Reds are desperate for a win to get back on track in the Premier League after five defeats in their last six. It's a run of form that has left the defending champions down in eighth. However, victory over Forest would see them close the gap on leaders Arsenal to five points.
And our Liverpool fans' jury are all hoping that one player in particular can take his 'perfect' international form to the domestic stage.
Rhys Buchanan
They say time is a great healer and I find myself buzzing to see The Reds back in action at home this weekend. Every game will be a challenge given our recent form, but there's no denying that the run ahead is just about as easy as we could ask for. That being said, just about every fixture carries an element of peril and sides like Nottingham Forest under Sean Dyche will have a blueprint laid out for them in terms of how to cause us damage.
There's been a lot of talk around Florian Wirtz particularly so far this season and that was always inevitable given his lofty price tag, but the notable absences of his old team-mate Jeremie Frimpong and Alexander Isak have only further put the German in the spotlight.
I think he's got to be starting matches now. With a few easier fixtures ahead, I think a few assists and goals could be a game-changing confidence booster for him. Without a doubt, an in-form Wirtz could be crucial in terms of whether we can stay within reach of the league leaders come the next international break.
Andrew Cullen
He was the most coveted player in the transfer market. Billed as the player that would transform any team in world football. A generational talent. Liverpool were expecting a bang on Wirtz’s arrival, but it has felt more like a whimper.
What is strange is that his story this season has not always been bleak; there have been glimmers of light. In Europe, at least, he looks at ease. During international games, he also looks comfortable. It’s the Premier League fixtures that have caused the discomfort. He has been bullied and brushed off the ball at times, and he has struggled to light up the league with his flare and talent.
Wirtz just needs time to adjust, and this adjustment is likely to take longer than fan expectation. We have seen diminutive players arrive and fail, but we have also seen some flourish. Alexis Mac Allister, for example, is cast in a similar mould to Wirtz, and Alexis has unquestionably been a big hit: he is both elegant and tenacious. Wirtz needs to follow the Alexis blueprint.
Fans are often impatient; what Flo needs now is fan patience. There is a superstar budding; he just needs time to grow in new surroundings.
James Noble
“We keep going!” The words on Florian Wirtz’s Instagram Story following Liverpool’s defeat at Manchester City struck a pleasingly determined tone.
Three assists in 16 club appearances so far this term reflect, to some extent, a start that we’d have all, of course, liked to have been smoother. Such statistics only tend to tell a portion of the story, of course.
There has been evident ongoing adaptation to the Premier League’s uniquely pronounced tempo and physicality, within a season where robustness looks to have become additionally prominent. There has been promise as well, though, with the former Bayer Leverkusen man’s class prominent on several occasions.
Platforming Wirtz more effectively and consistently is an intriguing challenge. His work from the left flank bodes well, while AFCON and returning teammates may open up fresh possibilities when it comes to maximising him and the team.
Andy Robertson’s moving words regarding Diogo Jota on Tuesday, in amongst the ecstasy of Scotland’s World Cup qualification, were a timely reminder of the unique context that Reds players and staff continue to navigate and that applying empathy remains important.
There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic and excited about what Liverpool can bring out of Wirtz and vice versa. Patience, tweaks and mistakes are all likely to be part of the process. Keep going, to channel the No.7, and those efforts ought to bear increasing fruit.