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Jurgen Klopp has got Florian Wirtz to dazzle for Germany (Image: Getty)
Florian Wirtz’s continued poor form for Liverpool has been one of the biggest talking points at Anfield this season. After his high-profile £116million move from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool last summer, Wirtz failed to make the impact that was expected of him. He ended the season with 17 goal contributions across all competitions, but much more was demanded of him.
Given the mitigating circumstances surrounding Liverpool’s previous campaign, and the fact that it was Wirtz’s first season in the Premier League, the playmaker was given some leeway. Fast forward to the first five matches of this current campaign and the pressure has started to mount again.
But what if former Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has given current Liverpool chief Andoni Iraola the blueprint for getting the best out of Wirtz? Klopp has taken over at Germany following their disappointing World Cup campaign, and in one of his first matches as manager, he seemed to get the very best out of Wirtz.
After just a handful of training sessions under Klopp, compared to over a year on Merseyside, Wirtz looks like a transformed player. He picked up a goal and an assist during the UEFA Nations League win over Serbia. Wirtz was given the freedom to pull the strings, with Tom Bischof and Aleksandar Pavlovic providing the midfield base just behind him.
Perhaps the key to getting the best out of Wirtz is making him the focal point? Of course, that requires a return in terms of goals and assists, but it is certainly something for Iraola to think about.
Wirtz even pointed to this himself, remarking: “The players around me made things a lot easier for me today. There was so much movement around me and when I have that, it becomes much easier for me to shine.”
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Germany v Serbia - UEFA Nations League 2026/27 Group A2 MD3
Florian Wirtz looked like a different player for Germany vs Serbia (Image: Getty)
Klopp was asked about Wirtz post-match, with the former Borussia Dortmund coach responding: "He was bursting with joy and worked incredibly hard.
"That was exceptional; he played a fantastic game. Our style of play suits Flo Wirtz. I don't even know what Flo has to do right to make everyone happy. Everyone in Liverpool should be happy today."
Having drawn against the Netherlands and lost against Greece, the win over Serbia was a big boost for Klopp. Germany have just one match left of this extended international break, with Die Nationalelf out for revenge against Greece on Sunday.