Overview

• Florian Wirtz has yet to record a goal or assist in six Premier League appearances and nine matches in all competitions for Liverpool.
• Vladimir Smicer, speaking to Boyle Sports, called Wirtz a fantastic player and said the pressure from a record fee is part of the job.
• Smicer highlighted the Newcastle match as a revealing physical test and urged Wirtz to show resilience and adapt to the pace.
• Germany greats Oliver Kahn and Rudi Völler backed Wirtz to come good at Anfield and urged that he be given time to settle.
• Wirtz joined from Bayer Leverkusen for an initial fee reported at £100m rising to about £116m, as comparisons continue with fellow summer signings Hugo Ekitike’s fast start and Milos Kerkez’s struggles.