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Liverpool attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz scored a brilliant free-kick for Germany on Sunday as it beat Northern Ireland in World Cup qualifying — but not everything went smoothly for Julian Nagelsmann's side.
The home crowd in Cologne booed their players at half-time for a poor performance. Wirtz's strike from distance was a rare moment of quality in a game where Germany struggled.
And after the match, Wirtz was asked about his adjustment to life at Liverpool. So far, the No. 10 has not found the back of the net, though it should be noted that games with Bournemouth, Newcastle, and Arsenal have all been won.
"It might take a few more games," Wirtz told broadcaster RTL (via Get German Football News). "It's a different league and a different kind of football.
"When will I score for the first time? I have no idea. Hopefully, in the next game. It will come eventually."
Wirtz has been thrown into the action against three of the most intense and difficult opponents that Liverpool will face this season.
Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth never stops running, while Newcastle was a unique experience in a tricky environment. Arsenal, of course, will be a title rival.
Upcoming matches against the likes of Burnley at Turf Moor and then Everton at Anfield will not be easy, but should offer more space for Wirtz to show what he can do on the ball — his main strength.
"We deserved to take the lead," Germany manager Nagelsmann said. "Then we conceded the equalizer with the only shot on goal we had today. In the period that followed, we played with the ball far too slowly.
"But I told the players that at half-time. What happened now? We conceded the equalizer. Wow! That happens a lot in football. The fans were booing. Also wow!
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"What’s important now is how we react. Then we made some good substitutions. I think the last 30 minutes were already good again. We had to win the game. And we did that."
Wirtz scored 16 times and assisted 15 goals for his teammates last season at Bayer Leverkusen. That earned him a $157 million (£116 million) move to Liverpool, with Bayern Munich and others also having been keen.
Liverpool.com says: Wirtz is going to be a massive success at Anfield. Though he has needed a bit of time to adjust, we should see what he is really capable of in the coming weeks. Arne Slot will be anything but concerned.
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