Florian Wirtz is being urged to start the new season strongly to stop discussion over his Liverpool future
Florian Wirtz of Liverpool in action during the pre-season friendly match against Monaco at Anfield on August 9 2026
Florian Wirtz of Liverpool in action during the pre-season friendly match against Monaco at Anfield on August 9 2026(Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
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Liverpool have been warned speculation over the future of Florian Wirtz will intensify if the Germany international doesn't hit the ground running under new head coach Andoni Iraola.
With previous Reds boss Arne Slot at the helm, Wirtz experienced an inconsistent campaign having arrived last summer in a £116million deal from Bayer Leverkusen.
The 23-year-old has made a decent start to pre-season, scoring against Leeds United in the United States and then playing a part in the second goal in Sunday's 3-2 loss at Monaco at Anfield.
And former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann believes Wirtz needs to maintain that momentum to prevent talk over his suitability at Anfield to be sparked in the coming months.
"The player I want to see shine is Wirtz because if you want to play a good role in the Champions League or the Premier League, you've got to get the best out of him," said Hamann.
"Slot wasn't able to do that last season, for whatever reason, and I just hope he hits the ground running because if he doesn't start the season well, by the first international break we'll have a scenario where people will maybe say 'well, is it the right place for him?'.
"Obviously that's what you don't want about one of your star players who cost so much money, that there are even more doubts about whether he's going to succeed.
"It's a huge season for Wirtz, but he's got to start the season well. If he doesn't, I think that Wirtz topic, that Wirtz issue, could become very hot very quickly."
Iraola will take charge of his first competitive game as Liverpool boss with the Premier League opener at Newcastle United on Sunday week.
The Basque led Bournemouth to European qualification for the first time in their history last season with the Cherries finishing just behind Liverpool in sixth place.
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And Hamann believes Iraola should be under no pressure to claim silverware in his first season in charge.
"I don't think he has to win a trophy because I think it's similar to (Arne) Slot," said. "Slot came in two years ago and I said if he finishes in the top four, he's had a successful season. Nobody could foresee that he was going to win the league.
"Obviously, it all came crashing down the next season. If Iraola finishes in the top four and qualifies automatically for the Champions League, he's had a good season.
"He just has to steady the ship, get some performances and make it obvious that there's some progress, which wasn't the case last season."
Speaking to TribalFootball via MrQ, Hamann added: "My advice? Enjoy it. Obviously, he will find out very quickly that Liverpool is a massive club if he hasn't realised it by now.
"It's a huge responsibility to be Liverpool manager. Enjoy it and hopefully take the fans on a brilliant ride in the Premier League and, you know, hopefully in the Champions League as well."
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