Steve McManaman blasts 'weak' Florian Wirtz after Liverpool moment vs Galatasaray

Former Liverpool ace Steve McManaman slammed Florian Wirtz for not being clinical enough in his side's clash with Galatasaray, as the attacking midfielder made his return from injury.

Florian Wirtz missed a big opportunity for Liverpool against Galatasaray(Image: (Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images))

Steve McManaman has suggested that Florian Wirtz was "weak" with his finishing as the Liverpool star made his return to the starting lineup against Galatasaray in the Champions League.

The attacking midfielder last started for the Reds in February, with a back injury leaving him out for a handful of matches. He made a return to the squad in the FA Cup win over Wolves but only featured from the bench, before featuring from the start in Europe in midweek.

Wirtz had been finding some form before his injury, with goals and assists starting to flow after a slow start to life at Anfield. It's no coincidence that Liverpool started to struggle with creativity in his absence, having been accused of being too slow in build up at times.

While Istanbul provided a perfect chance for Wirtz to announce his full return, the frantic nature of the match didn't quite allow him to control the game as he would like. There were opportunities for the German playmaker, however, most notably a free shot inside the box in the first half.

One effort was batted away from the goalkeeper, while the other was put wide, with McManaman slamming the finish as "weak" when speaking on TNT Sports. He said: "Liverpool started really well and exploited Galatasaray playing out from the back.

"It is a great chance for Wirtz. I can't quite explain how good of a chance. And the finish is just really weak. He doesn't threaten the goal, it is yards wide.

"He has another chance soon after that and he fires it into the ground with no passion to thrash at the goal to hit the target."

Florian Wirtz missed a big opportunity for Liverpool against Galatasaray(Image: (Photo by Burak Kara - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images))

It's a frustrating moment for Wirtz, who got 73 minutes of action for the team before he was substituted, having missed a chance to take the game by the scruff of the neck. The 22-year-old wasn't the only one to fail in taking opportunities in a match that was defined by chances at either end.

Mario Lemina gave the home side the lead in the first half, capitalising on a dangerous cross to fire the ball home. There were plenty of chances for both teams, with Liverpool taking 15 shots to Galatasaray's 11, with a 1-0 win for the home side that could've ended very differently.

It means the Reds have work to do in the second leg to reach the next round of the Champions League, but with plenty of quality to do so. Wirtz could well be at the heart of that, if he can find a way to add more aggression and a clinical edge to the opportunities he put down in the first leg.

That could come from the confidence to pick up where he left off pre-injury, with Slot previously explaining where that confidence came from. Speaking last month, he said: "First and foremost, credit to the player because he has to do the work. Not only on the pitch but also in the gym.

“Then as a manager, even if he is struggling a little bit at the start, you have to keep playing him because that is the only way he can improve. He is an example of that.”

Wirtz has six goals and eight assists to his name across all competitions, finding his place well in the Premier League and Champions League. However, fans will want to see that output in the matches that mean the most, which will include that Galatasaray clash next week.