Overview

• Wirtz joined from Bayer Leverkusen for an initial £100m fee that could rise to £116m.
• He has six Premier League appearances without a goal or assist and nine games in all competitions without a direct contribution.
• Oliver Kahn told Welt that it is wrong to condemn Wirtz so early and that the Premier League’s intensity can benefit his development.
• Rudi Völler told Bild that Wirtz is facing normal adjustment problems and predicted he will make a breakthrough at Anfield.
• Scrutiny has grown after defeats to Crystal Palace and Galatasaray, as ex-Red Vladimir Smicer urged Wirtz to embrace the pressure and physicality he experienced, including at Newcastle.