Overview

• Florian Wirtz has 10 Liverpool appearances with no Premier League goals or assists, was benched at Chelsea before a half-time introduction, and featured in a third straight defeat that saw Arsenal take top spot.
• Germany sporting director Rudi Voller said Wirtz was routinely found by teammates at Leverkusen and argued on Sky90 that building similar connections at Liverpool will take weeks and months.
• Bastian Schweinsteiger, Philipp Lahm and Lothar Matthäus publicly backed Wirtz, insisting his quality will show once he settles into the Premier League.
• BILD reported the 22-year-old stayed for extra shooting practice and a gym session with Germany, with teammate David Raum praising his work-rate and energy.
• Some reports citing unnamed sources claim Arne Slot is worried by Wirtz’s start, while Micah Richards and Paul Scholes highlighted the pressure of his fee and Liverpool’s influx of new signings.