Overview

• Wirtz joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in June for around £116m, turning down Bayern Munich.
• Ballack told Bild that the Bundesliga has been surpassed by the Premier League and is less attractive to elite players, calling for changes.
• The 22-year-old has yet to record a Premier League goal or assist in his first three matches, though he set up a goal in the Community Shield.
• During the international break he struggled in Germany’s 2-0 defeat to Slovakia, then scored a free-kick against Northern Ireland, but still drew low marks from BILD and Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung.
• Michael Owen called the criticism premature, saying Wirtz could become a future player of the season as he adapts, while Wirtz said it may take a few more games to settle.