Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has defended Florian Wirtz after the £116 million signing endured a difficult start to life in the Premier League. The playmaker has not registered a goal contribution since the Community Shield defeat to Crystal Palace in August, drawing scrutiny from pundits and fans alike.
Klopp insisted the furore over Wirtz's form is exaggerated. 'I don't have to worry about Florian Wirtz because his quality is so outstanding,' he said. 'The discussion is certainly being blown out of proportion. He has a stable environment at Liverpool, and the club is great in moments like these.’
Liverpool sit second in the Premier League, one point behind Arsenal, after back-to-back league defeats. Wirtz has shown flashes of quality without his teammates converting chances, but former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has suggested the German should be dropped to restore balance.
'Right now, I don't think the balance of the team is right, and the obvious one that stands out is Florian Wirtz,' Carragher said after the 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray. 'He needs to come out of the team, Liverpool get back to what they were last season.'
Klopp dismissed the criticism, drawing on his own experience. 'I've been in the middle of such discussions long enough now, and I can tell you: nothing could interest people less than the public discussions that are taking place there,' he added. 'Everything will be fine.'
