Florian Wirtz Reveals Brutal Truth Behind His Sluggish Liverpool Debut

Florian Wirtz has admitted he is still adapting to Premier League football following a modest beginning to his time at Liverpool.

The Merseyside club smashed the British transfer record to secure Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen in a £116 million ($156.6 million) deal—a benchmark they later exceeded with the £125 million signing of Alexander Isak—yet supporters are still waiting for a defining performance from their new playmaker following subdued displays against Bournemouth, Newcastle United and Arsenal.

The scrutiny intensified for Wirtz during the international window as German press criticized his contribution in a 2–0 loss to Slovakia, though he answered back with a stunning goal to seal a 3–1 victory over Northern Ireland on Sunday.

Wirtz marked his goal by cupping his ear, seemingly delivering a response to his detractors. Following the match, RTL questioned the 22-year-old about whether the weight of such a significant Premier League transfer had affected him.

"It's a different league, a different style of play," Wirtz explained regarding his gradual start. "I'm delighted to be there."

When questioned about whether he expects to score his maiden Liverpool goal soon, Wirtz responded: "I have no clue when my first goal will arrive, hopefully in the upcoming match, but it will happen eventually."

Wirtz found it difficult operating on Germany's left flank against Slovakia but was positioned in his preferred number 10 role versus Northern Ireland. Beyond his superb finish, Wirtz managed to set up a match-leading three scoring opportunities and drew more fouls than any teammate.

He will be eager to adopt a comparable position when Liverpool resume Premier League duties away to Burnley this weekend, marking his fifth outing in the club's colors.