Florian Wirtz has been sent a warning about what needs to come next at Liverpool after Reds legend Jamie Carragher was very critical of the German attacking midfielder
Florian Wirtz in action for Liverpool against Newcastle.
Florian Wirtz in action for Liverpool against Newcastle.(Image: Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock has warned Florian Wirtz that he has to stop trying to score the "perfect goal", with the German still adjusting to the English game.
Arriving from Bayer Leverkusen for a fee that could reach $157 million (£116 million) including add-ons, Wirtz is hoping to show that he is ready for the next step under Andoni Iraola this term, and having a fully-fit Alexander Isak alongside him should help.
"You've got to have more assists and more goals," Warnock said. "It almost feels at times he wants the perfect goal, and sometimes I'd like to see him shoot more rather than being selfless in the way that he plays.
"I think his intensity, in the way that he plays, the way he closes down, he's got to buy into the way Iraola plays. I think he's got that side to him, and he's got to be more robust and understand the Premier League is quicker than the Bundesliga.
"There were times last year where he got away from players and they got back at him. He's got to realize that in the Premier League, that's not happening."
Wirtz scored seven goals and laid on 10 assists for his teammates last season in a struggling team. This time around, he needs to be kicking on and using that as a platform.
"The big thing with Wirtz for me is we see his ability and flashes of genius," Warnock, speaking to Wettbasis, continued.
Florian Wirtz of Liverpool
Florian Wirtz of Liverpool(Image: Alfie Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
"But if you're paying that kind of money for a player, it cannot be flashes: it's got to be consistent; it's got to be for longer periods. You've got to have more assists, more goals.
"His intelligence on the ball, we know it's there. And if he learns from that this year, I think Liverpool have got a player in their hands. More consistency and have more of an effect for longer periods of the game."
On Sky Sports Monday Night Football earlier this week, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher was very critical of Wirtz, essentially writing him off just one game into the new season.
"I’ve been seen as being critical of Wirtz maybe last season," Carragher said. "This thing that it takes players a year to settle in the Premier League, I think is a bit of a myth. I don't think there's too many examples.
"When I see people say he’s got to be number 10, that means Dominik Szoboszlai has to be in the team in central midfield. He is not a central-midfield player.
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"I thought this would come up in six weeks, I think it’s coming up right now. I don’t see where he fits in at all.
"I thought eventually I'd be having this conversation in four or six weeks, but I'm looking at it right now thinking 'What is Iraola going to do with this?'. You can’t keep going with it.
"It's not working and it didn't work last season. Liverpool last season conceded 53 goals in the Premier League, the most they've ever conceded, and all summer, it's about buying wingers.
"There is no thought about the full-back positions. The position next to Gravenberch, there is no real thought about that either. It's getting to the stage now where I wonder where you fit Wirtz in."
Liverpool.com says: Wirtz has come under fire for his performance at Newcastle. It is fairer to assess him a few months into the season, however. Right now, making cast-iron judgments is far too premature.