Florian Wirtz has made an underwhelming begin to life within the Premier League after his big-money move to Liverpool, but a former Reds striker likes what he has seen from him.
Arne Slot’s team has won two thrilling games from two in the highest flight up to now this season, beating Bournemouth 4-2 at Anfield after which Newcastle 3-2 at St James’ Park.
Wirtz was not involved in any of Liverpool’s seven goals, yet to register a goal or assist, and particularly against Newcastle was quite anonymous despite his team having an additional man for greater than half the match.
Clearly it is incredibly early in his life in England since his move from Bayer Leverkusen, which could cost Liverpool as much as £116m.
But removed from worries about his performances, former Reds and England striker Emile Heskey is for certain the German will prove to be an amazing signing.
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‘100 per cent,’ Heskey told Gambling.com on whether Wirtz will prove to be value for money. ‘Even within the games that I’ve seen, I’ve seen enough.
‘He’s going to need to take his time, or, now we have got to present him time, because coming into the Premier League – everyone forgets that it’s fast and furious. You are available in from a special league where it’s very different, after which they need to speed up.
‘We’re 100 miles an hour nearly on a regular basis [in the Premier League]. We see it once we play in Europe, how we actually trample over teams at times, due to intensity that we play at. After which we expect players to are available in and find that intensity right away.
‘We’re probably one among the leagues where you may actually tackle still, where you’re allowed to tackle. So it’s coping with that as well, people coming near you and truly tackling, and also you’re not getting a free kick. You’ve got to figure all that out.
‘So I’ve seen enough that I like him. He jogs my memory just a little little bit of [Philippe] Coutinho, finding them little pockets and he’s very elegant on the ball. I like him so much and I consider it is going to develop into a signing that is certainly value for money.’
Asked if Wirtz is someone he would really like to play with himself, Heskey said: ‘Yeah, definitely, because you simply make runs. There’s players that you just play with and once they’re on the ball – just make a run. They know find out how to find you.
‘Stevie [Gerrard] was one. [Paul] Scholes, Lamps [Frank Lampard]. So players like which are incredible.’
Reds legend Steve Nicol is just not so sure on Wirtz being successful and feels it could already be time for Slot to try a brand new position for him.
‘He can have to seek out a special spot for this guy,’ Nicol told ESPN. ‘Right away, he isn’t getting on the ball, which is what he was brought in to do, but from a defensive viewpoint there is no such thing as a query that Liverpool are struggling big time.
‘So, he can have to maneuver him out wide and use [Dominik] Szoboszlai, [Alexis] Mac Allister and [Ryan] Gravenberch because the midfield three, because straight away the back 4 cannot defend as a unit.
‘In order that they may need to alter the best way they play, move Wirtz out to a large area for my part, but then at the identical time, [Cody] Gakpo doesn’t should be dropped.
‘Are you going to drop Gakpo simply because you’ve paid £100m for Florian Wirtz? It’s a tricky decision.’
Liverpool are back in Premier League motion on Sunday in an enormous clash as they welcome Arsenal to Anfield.
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