Liverpool’s record signing Florian Wirtz opens up on his “difficult” start at Anfield and why he is finally ready to deliver for Arne Slot as the Reds prepare for a season-defining clash against Fulham at Anfield.
It’s not been an easy campaign for any new player to make the move to Merseyside, as Arne Slot’s side are underperforming and face a real threat of missing out on the Champions League next season with their Premier League position and currently 2-0 down to Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League quarter-final first leg tie.
The German playmaker, who arrived at Anfield amid a whirlwind of expectations and a record-breaking transfer fee, confessed that the adjustment to the physical demands and relentless pace of the Premier League has proven a steep learning curve.
However, after a period of acclimatisation, Wirtz now insists he is fully prepared to justify the eye-watering investment the club made to secure his services from the Bundesliga.
His struggle to find top gear is perhaps symptomatic of a wider malaise currently gripping Merseyside.
In an interview with TNT Sports, the Wirtz admitted he had found it difficult to begin with, but he is now finding his feet as his team looks to end the season on a high.
He said, “I’m feeling very good now on a physical level, also I’m feeling good now in England.”
Adapting to change in Liverpool
The 22-year-old began his career at Koln before making the switch to Leverkusen at 17 years old, where he became the fourth youngest Bundesliga debutant.
Being in Germany, an environment he knew allowed him to play at a high level, therefore it came as a shock to some when he turned down Bayern Munich to move to Anfield.
The £116 million man struggled to get going. He showcased his creative flair but got no reward and didn’t score his first Premier League goal until late December.
He acknowledged the pressure on him to deliver in what was expected to be another special year for the club.
“Of course, I know that they paid a lot for me. I still think that I’m improving, of course it was a difficult start for me because I wanted to impact the team immediately.”
In recent weeks, his performances have been more noticeable in the final third. Even in the game against Manchester City, he was a creative spark in the opening half an hour before Erling Haaland gave Pep Guardiola’s side the lead in a 4-0 defeat.
Wirtz believes the objective has changed, and it’s all about enhancing his team’s performance rather than concentrating on his own.
“This was a big change, but now I’m just trying to make the team better.”
Time to go with the Flo
Now that he is settled, it’s time to give him the tools to allow him to succeed and see what comes next.
When the news broke last May that the Reds had considered signing the playmaker, there was a buzz in the air, and when the signing was complete, the Anfield faithful believed they had signed the next great Premier League player.
While he has shown glimpses of his immense skill, he hasn’t done it often enough and with the price tag, he has faced plenty of criticism.
Slot’s side have been a shell of themselves this season, and the fanbase is torn over their manager, with a general feeling of displeasure following the shambolic performance against PSG.
Many believe that Xabi Alonso could be the new face in the dugout next season, and his relationship with Wirtz could unlock what we saw in the Bundesliga.
However, Mohamed Salah’s announcement has brought to light the need for someone to step up and take his place as the architect on the side.
The former Leverkusen player wasn’t brought in for the idea of a single season, but the dream to be part of Liverpool’s next phase of success.
The pressure on both the manager and his star signing is high following a dismal showing in Europe. Liverpool currently head into the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie with a mountain to climb and with their domestic standing faltering and their continental ambitions hanging by a thread, the stage is set for Wirtz to finally deliver the world-class performance the Anfield faithful have been waiting for before the season slips away entirely.
The visit of Marco Silva’s Fulham side is no longer just another fixture; it is a fundamental test of character for Arne Slot’s era.
If Wirtz and his teammates can finally find their stride, it might just spark the late-season resurgence Anfield is desperate to see. If they falter again it will become impossible for the board to ignore as the prospect of a season without Champions League football becomes a grim reality.
