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Liverpool manager Arne Slot has passionately defended $158 million Florian Wirtz after Reds legend Steve Nicol expressed concerns over the Germany international's performances.
The 22-year-old joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, the first of the Reds' two major signings alongside Alexander Isak costing north of $150m each. However, Wirtz hasn't had the impact many had hoped, including Nicol, who says the midfielder has "disappointed" him so far after struggling in Liverpool's narrow 1-0 win over newly-promoted Burnley.
"If we were going to talk about one player who is disappointed the most, I think we'd have to say, if ever a player was brought in to break down a game, this was it today... and that, I'm afraid, is Wirtz's job," Nicol said on ESPN FC about Wirtz, who is yet to score or assist in the Prem.
"That's what he was brought in to do. And today, just again, he couldn't do it, and he hasn't done it yet since he's come to the club now.
"The fact that Liverpool wins again probably means that Arne Slot can keep pushing Florian Wirtz in the starting XI and keep giving him time, hoping that his true form is going to come out."
However, Reds manager Slot has defended his big-money signing ahead of Liverpool's first Champions League game of the 2025/26 season against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. "I put it down to the other teams. It tells you how hard it is to play these games," Slot said.
"There is so much focus on our new signings, especially from pundits who favor other clubs, who cannot stop talking about how much we spent but forget what we received on layers we sold.
"These players were a lot of money, but they are playing with players who are also worth the same. To strengthen the squad, we have to spend this kind of money.
"If we sold Dom Szoboszlai tomorrow, he would also be worth 100m. There is so much focus on Florian, but the other players haven't scored loads of goals or created loads of assists, but that is down to the teams we have faced. But he is part of the team that is top of the league."
Liverpool has yet to lose a game this season, albeit in razor-thin margins. The Reds left it late to topple Bournemouth 4-2 in the Premier League opener, before following up with a 3-2 win away at Newcastle, a 1-0 win over Arsenal, and a 1-0 victory against Burnley.
The Reds will kickstart their Champions League campaign against Atletico at Anfield on Wednesday, in which Wirtz is expected to play a starring role.
Liverpool will then host city rivals Everton at home next weekend in a Merseyside Derby.
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