Liverpool: Florian Wirtz reaction to Gary Neville 'little boy' criticism revealed | OneFootball

Struggling midfielder has faced criticism from Manchester United legends

Florian Wirtz remains unconcerned over growing criticism of his performances for Liverpool.

The Premier League champions broke the British transfer record to sign Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, with the deal worth up to £116million. Liverpool went on the broke the record again later in the window to sign Alexander Isak for £125m.

But the Germany international has struggled to make an impact during his first months in England, and after 11 games remains without a goal contribution in the Premier League.

Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher recently said of Wirtz: "He’s found it really tough in the Premier League. And, I worry about him sort of going forward. I get it’s early days, but I need to see something.”

Wirtz actually damages the balance of Liverpool and how they play

Wayne Rooney

Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney believes Wirtz "damages the balance of Liverpool" as Arne Slot has a juggle a number of attacking players signed for big money and on huge wages.

"I don't see where he gets into the team," Rooney said on The Wayne Rooney Show.

"I think it was a lot of money. I think Wirtz actually damages the balance of Liverpool and how they play. He's a top player and I'm sure he will get better - but he's had a slow start and I think there's no denying that ... I don't see where he fits into what Liverpool do in that system."

Gary Neville, Rooney's former team-mate at United, went even further, describing Wirtz as looking like a "little boy" at the weekend after Liverpool were comfortably beaten 3-0 by Manchester City.

“I thought Wirtz in particular - it was a really bad day for him,” Neville said on the Gary Neville Podcast. “We've been tip-toeing around him haven't we, for a few months, around the fact that he's young, coming to a new country. But he's £120million, you're going to have to stand up soon.

He's £120m and he looked like a little boy out there, it can’t be the case

Gary Neville

“He's obviously got something. He's a really good player and technically fantastic, but he's been mauled out there today by [Matheus] Nunes and by others. He's been chucked around the pitch and didn't deliver in the quality side of things either. His performance was a real worry.

“Wirtz is a problem, let's call it what it is. It's an issue. He's £120m and he looked like a little boy out there. It can't be the case. He's a German international of great standing and he looks well short of what you'd expect from a top physical match."

Rio Ferdinand, another United hero, has previously suggested Wirtz could even be questioning joining Liverpool after losing his starting spot in the Premier League for the visit of United in October - a game which the Reds lost.

"If at any point in those first two or three months, if a manager dropped me for a game of that importance and significance, there would have been huge doubts in my mind," he said on his Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast.

There is no doubt in my mind right now that Wirtz [thought] ... 'Is this the right decision?'

Rio Ferdinand

"Doubts would creep in, it would be impossible that you don't start thinking 'have I made the right decision? ... there is no doubt in my mind right now that when Wirtz saw his name not on that team sheet that he was going on his way home, in the warm-up, in his bed that night: 'Is this the right decision?'

"I'm not saying it's the wrong decision, but I'd have a big amount of money if I was a gambling man that there would have been a thought in his mind that said that and went along those lines."

But Wirtz is not bothered.

German publicaton BILD report on Wednesday that "Wirtz doesn't deserve any sympathy" but the player will take no notice of the United cohort due to the rivalry between the two clubs.

Wirtz is currently on international duty with Germany, who face Luxembourg and Slovakia, before returning to Liverpool.