Gary Lineker Supports Florian Wirtz Despite Slow Start at Liverpool
Florian Wirtz has had a quiet beginning to his time at Liverpool, but Gary Lineker remains confident in the German midfielder's potential to succeed at Anfield.
Lineker praised Wirtz, stating he "is really good at football" and pointed to his past performances as evidence that he will eventually prove valuable to the Reds.
Record Transfer and Initial Performance
Liverpool began their summer transfer activity by signing Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for a British record fee of £116 million. Despite high expectations, the 22-year-old has yet to register a goal or assist in the Premier League.
Wirtz was also a substitute during Liverpool's recent 2-0 victory over Aston Villa, indicating he is still finding his place in the squad.
Expert Opinions on Wirtz's Future
Though under scrutiny, football figures like Lineker and Micah Richards believe in Wirtz's ability to become a key player at Liverpool. Lineker went as far as calling him an "exceptional" talent.
“At the moment he is not up to speed for the Premier League, but he spent £100m on him, but 100% it was the right decision that he made,” Richards said on the Rest is Football podcast.
Richards also reflected on the club’s broader context, noting that Liverpool has spent heavily and experienced player losses. He mentioned former player Trent Alexander-Arnold as an example of the quality they miss.
"Liverpool now go back to what they did last season," Richards added, emphasizing the team’s intention to return to strong performances.
Author's Summary
Despite a slow start, experts including Gary Lineker remain optimistic that Florian Wirtz will justify Liverpool's record £116m investment with his exceptional talent.