Steven Gerrard has backed Florian Wirtz to turn his Liverpool career around.
Wirtz has struggled to live up to expectations since joining the Reds from Bayer Leverkusen. He has scored seven goals and provided 12 assists in 57 games.
Jamie Carragher has urged Andoni Iraola to drop the Germany international following Liverpool’s defeat to Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday.
However, Gerrard is not giving up on Wirtz, insisting that the midfielder can become a key player for the Reds.
“I am not denying that he is underperforming and that we should have seen a lot more given his price tag,” he told the Overlap.
“But I just think there is a chance, and it’s happened previously, that players can turn it around. I think he’s got the talent to turn it around, but his confidence is shot at the moment.”
The 23-year-old remains one of Germany’s best players despite his struggles at Liverpool.
He has chipped in with five goals and eight assists for Jurgen Klopp’s side since joining the Merseyside giants.
Wirtz’s international performances are another reason Gerrard believes he could flourish at Liverpool.
“He seems to be playing with his shoulders back, with a different energy, and getting on the ball,” the former England international continued.
“He is getting into pockets of space. He is actually executing in the final third with his passes. He is getting goals. And I think you’ve seen it at Bayer Leverkusen, and I know it is a different level.”
Wirtz produced one of his best performances in a Liverpool shirt in Wednesday’s 6-3 victory over Austrian side LASK. He registered an assist and recorded the most shots in the match.
Iraola, who has continued to back Wirtz, believes the performance will help boost the confidence of the former Leverkusen midfielder.
Wirtz will be hoping to build on that momentum when Liverpool face Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday.