Liverpool star Florian Wirtz has been under fire for his difficulties so far this season, following a challenging first campaign for the Reds last time out.
Florian Wirtz of Liverpool during the Premier League 2026/27 match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool FC
Florian Wirtz has been criticized for his recent performances for Liverpool(Image: (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images))
Liverpool has been told to show patience with Florian Wirtz, despite the struggles the playmaker has shown since joining the club over the past year.
It follows criticism aimed at the German international after a challenging start to the season, during which he has registered just one assist in six matches. That is off the back of a campaign in which he scored seven goals and assisted ten across all competitions, figures that left some Liverpool fans underwhelmed, given the $153 million invested in the star last summer.
There has been some hope that the first season may simply be an adjustment period to the challenges of the Premier League, but the early signs this campaign suggest that it will be an uphill battle for Wirtz to reach the heights expected of him.
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The latest criticism came from Jamie Carragher, who suggested that a midfield change should be on the way soon, with the number ten dropped to move Dominik Szoboszlai further forward and rebalance the rest of the central ranks.
On the other hand, both Jurgen Klopp and Andoni Iraola have defended Wirtz, believing he is adjusting well and putting in more effort than the numbers show.
While questions about the attacking midfielder continue to be asked, Liverpool expert Josh Williams believes patience is needed, but he has addressed concerns about the midfielder's current performance levels.
Speaking on BBC Radio Merseyside, he said: "If you look at his performance against Bournemouth, yes. It was a disgrace. I get it might happen here and there, but it isn't supposed to happen to a £100 million player.
Florian Wirtz (L) looks on with team mate Karim Adeyemi during a Team Germany training session
Jurgen Klopp has defended Florian Wirtz(Image: (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images))
"The credit he has got in the bank is largely from his Bundesliga days. It has been over a year since he arrived in England but we aren't seeing a player that grabs the game by the scruff of the neck - and I suppose a £100 million player should do that.
"It is a difficult one because he is still really young and there are tactical reasons why he didn't succeed last season. We are only six games into Andoni Iraola's reign as well, so I would encourage patience with Wirtz."
It remains to be seen whether Wirtz will succeed at Liverpool, but there will be some hope that Iraola can find a way to get the best out of him in the weeks and months ahead.
In the meantime, he will be looking to find some form on international duty with Germany, where Klopp could help build some momentum, before returning to Liverpool with some important clashes ahead.
With a match against Manchester City on the horizon, there would be no better place for Wirtz to show his true quality than in such a high-profile encounter.