Aguero Backs Wirtz as Liverpool Faces Struggles on Pitch

Sergio Aguero, the former Manchester City striker, has expressed his support for Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz, predicting he will become an essential player for the club. Wirtz, who transferred from Bayer Leverkusen for a substantial fee of £116 million in June, has faced a challenging start to his career at Anfield, making 16 appearances without scoring a goal.

Despite his struggles, Wirtz has contributed three assists this season, including two in the Champions League and one in the FA Cup. However, his inconsistent performances have led to limited starting opportunities under manager Arne Slot, who frequently alternates between Wirtz and teammate Cody Gakpo in the starting lineup.

Aguero remains optimistic about Wirtz’s future, emphasizing that adaptation to a new club varies for each player. Speaking to Stake, Aguero stated, “It’s hard to give advice. Players have different personalities and their adaptation times vary. Some adapt quickly and others need more time. But I have no doubt he will settle. Great players – and Wirtz is one – sooner or later settle and become vital in their teams.”

Concerns about Wirtz’s current performance were echoed by former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann, who suggested that a loan move could be on the horizon during the January transfer window. Hamann noted, “Could Florian Wirtz still leave Liverpool on loan in January? Yeah. Obviously with all the help and all the protection from the club and the manager, if you bring somebody in for that amount of money, then maybe he should be the one, even though he’s still very young.”

Hamann expressed doubt about Wirtz’s ability to turn his performance around, questioning whether he has lost confidence since joining the Premier League. “Sometimes when I watch him, I think, has he lost belief because it is in the Premier League? When he loses possession, I wonder if it’s because it’s a lot quicker, a lot more physical,” Hamann added. He concluded that if Wirtz’s struggles continue for too long, it will become increasingly difficult for him to regain his form.

Aguero also addressed the current form of Liverpool’s star forward, Mohamed Salah, who has scored only five goals in 18 appearances this season. “Never doubt a great goal-scorer,” Aguero remarked. He believes Salah’s goal drought is linked to Liverpool’s overall slow start to the season, stating, “I believe his performances were impacted by his team’s lacklustre start to the season. A player can’t carry the entire team on his own.”

As the season progresses, both Wirtz and Salah will be under scrutiny as Liverpool seeks to regain its competitive edge in the Premier League. The club’s next matches will be crucial as they aim to improve their standings and support their key players in overcoming their current challenges.