Sporting director BLAMES Liverpool for Florian Wirtz difficulties | OneFootball

Liverpool completed a British record deal for Florian Wirtz last summer - paying what could end up being a £116m fee for the Germany playmaker.

Wirtz, 22, was a star in Bayer Leverkusen’s 2023/24 unbeaten league and cup double-winning campaign. He was the attacking focal point under Xabi Alonso - convinced to take the next step in his career at Anfield by head coach Arne Slot.

The Dutchman made a pledge to field Wirtz in the No10 position - winning the race for his signature ahead of Real Madrid and Manchester City.

Liverpool waiting for the best of Wirtz

It’s fair to say it’s been a slow start to the Liverpool career of Wirtz - who is without a goal or an assist through 11 matches in the Premier League.

He has been in and out of the lineup under Slot - with the head coach settling on a left-wing position for the creative force in recent weeks.

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Liverpool on the whole have struggled of late - losing seven of 10 games - and went into the international break on the back of a bad defeat to Man City.

Wirtz's former boss hits out at Reds

Heading into the international window, Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann passed comment that Wirtz would have more assists if Liverpool's forwards could simply finish the chances he created.

And now another prominent German voice has spoken about the conditions Wirtz has inherited at Anfield.

Interviewed by Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger - the Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes leapt to Wirtz’s defence.

© IMAGO - Florian Wirtz Liverpool

Liverpool haven't gelled says Rolfes

"For all his individual class, Flo is above all one thing: a total team player," he said.

"Flo thrives on combination play, but at the moment Liverpool hasn't quite gelled as a team yet. That makes things more difficult for Flo."

It’s been a season of great renewal for the Reds. Out went several title-winning stars in favour of £450m worth of new signings. And it is true that Liverpool are still waiting to click.

The £116m man will eventually come good - but first Arne Slot has got to work out the optimum team formula.

Wirtz knew his role clearly under Alonso - who played a 3-4-3 for Leverkusen but it’s yet to be worked out under Slot.