Florian Wirtz was back in action for Liverpool on Sunday as he helped the Reds to a 2-0 win away at West Ham
Florian Wirtz of Liverpool looks on during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Liverpool at London Stadium
(Image: Liverpool FC, Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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Florian Wirtz impressed for Liverpool when making his return from injury in their victory over West Ham United on Sunday. However, this hasn't stopped him from being the subject of some contentious remarks from the direction his former admirers, Bayern Munich.
The talented midfielder turned down interest from the likes of Bayern and Man City to make a £116m move from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool last summer. But the 22-year-old has endured a slow start at Anfield in what has been a difficult campaign to date for the Reds.
Having made 17 appearances for Liverpool so far, Wirtz is yet to find the back of the net or contribute to a goal in the Premier League as he adjusts to English football.
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His performances have been under scrutiny, leading to him being shuffled in and out of Arne Slot's starting line-up and used in various positions, reports the Liverpool Echo.
After missing two matches due to a muscle injury, Wirtz was a surprise starter against West Ham on Saturday. Yet he was one of Liverpool's best performers, particularly after being reinstated to his preferred number 10 position.
While he's still waiting for his first goal contribution in the Premier League, he played a key role in Liverpool's opener as he played in Cody Gakpo to cross for Alexander Isak to break the deadlock at the London Stadium.
The triumph helped Liverpool recover following a string of heavy losses against Man City, Nottingham Forest and PSV Eindhoven, lifting them to eighth in the Premier League standings.
Despite still suffering nine defeats in their previous 13 outings, it marked progress for Slot's squad.
However, that has not stopped Bayern Munich honorary president Uli Hoeness from delivering a cutting jab at the Reds whilst expressing his pity for Wirtz in rather patronising terms after the player chose Liverpool ahead of the German powerhouse.
Bayern, who secured Luis Diaz from the Reds during the summer window, have enjoyed an outstanding season thus far, claiming victory in 18 of their 20 fixtures across all competitions. Meanwhile, their sole defeat came against Arsenal in the Champions League last week.
Uli Hoeness
Bayern Munich's board member and former president Uli Hoeness
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Addressing a 10,000-strong audience at a 'Power Days' gathering at Munich's Olympic Hall on Sunday night, Hoeness praised Bayern as amongst the globe's elite before later taking aim Liverpool and Wirtz.
"We have proven this season that we can compete with the very best," he declared, as quoted by BILD. "We beat Chelsea, one of the best teams in the world.
"We won in Paris and deservedly lost against Arsenal, a superb team. But I would already describe FC Bayern as one of the three to five best teams in the world..
"They (Liverpool) spent €500million and are having a disastrous season. In my opinion, that's because they only have superstars. I always say: Liverpool will soon have to play with five balls because the stars won't give up any of them.
"Poor Florian Wirtz, he doesn't even get a ball because Salah and Szoboszlai and all the others want to play with their own."
Bayern Munich were once favourites to sign Wirtz, but Liverpool swooped in and secured his signature after an impressive pitch from Slot. Since then, there's been a series of snide comments from Bayern's camp about the German player and Liverpool, with Hoeness' latest jibe being the most recent.
Despite Bayern having a more successful season than Liverpool so far, these sour grapes suggest they're still smarting from losing out on Wirtz to the Reds.
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