Jermaine Pennant makes big Florian Wirtz claim after Liverpool criticism

Florian Wirtz has really come into his own for Liverpool in the last couple of months, and he has now scored six times and provided eight assists for his teammates

Liverpool playmaker Florian Wirtz is starting to flourish at Anfield(Image: Steven Halliwell/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Florian Wirtz has really come to life for Liverpool in the last few months. After a slow-ish start to life in England, he has become more used to the rigors and demands.

The German, signed from Bayer Leverkusen for a fee that could reach $157 million (£116 million) including add-ons, has now scored six goals and provided eight assists in all competitions. Wirtz's quality has always been clearly evident, and now the numbers in the final third are starting to show it.

"We saw all the headlines and comments on Florian Wirtz," former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant said on talkSPORT ahead of Saturday's game. "'No goals, 007, what a waste of money.'

"I stood by him, I could see it on the pitch. It was just that the team wasn't really in a great place at that time. They weren't finishing off the chances that he was creating.

"Now he's got used to the Premier League, it's money well spent in my eyes. He looks like he's one of the best in that role in the Premier League at the minute."

Against Newcastle at the weekend, Wirtz ran the show along with Hugo Ekitike. And the pair's relationship is really coming along nicely and Arne Slot was delighted.

Hugo Ekitike celebrates with Florian Wirtz(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

"I don’t think it comes to a surprise to anyone — definitely not to me, because the more players play together, the more they can find an understanding," Slot said.

"I’ve tried to explain why it was difficult for them to play earlier in the season every three days again, and now they are able to do that, because they can keep going.

"They can play more often together, we can play more often with the same team or same combinations and, as last season has shown, the more you can play together, the better it is.

"And I’ve always said that I would love to play, not love, but I prefer to play as much as I can with the same 11. But for obvious reasons, that wasn’t always possible.

"Now it’s more and more possible and then you can also see that connections are getting better and better — not only with these two but also with other players."

"I just enjoy it," Wirtz said after scoring at Anfield. "It's so easy to say but as long as I can help the team win games, I'm happy.

"Then, when you can celebrate your own goals, it's always the best. I always felt good here. I enjoy playing in this stadium with these fans.

"Maybe you connect a little bit better, also with the fans, when they can see that you can score or that you are important for the team. I'm just happy to play here in front of the fans."