Finger pointed at Liverpool again as Florian Wirtz impresses for Germany

Wirtz thrives for Germany under Klopp but struggles at Liverpool; journalist suggests the club needs better man-management to unlock his potential.

Florian Wirtz has underperformed since his €125m move to Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen last year, managing just nine goals and 15 assists in 64 games despite a stellar record in Germany. The contrast is stark when playing for his national team under Jurgen Klopp, where he has two goals and an assist in three games since October and three assists in four World Cup matches.

Journalist Marcel Reif believes Liverpool's issue is man-management rather than ability. "If they can't manage that at Liverpool, they won't get the best out of him," Reif said on BILD's Reif ist Live show. He argues Wirtz needs to feel supported and comfortable, suggesting the player requires a sense of ease and the backing of teammates—something he appears to receive from Klopp at international level.

Under Arne Slot last season and Andoni Iraola more recently, Wirtz has managed just two goals and five assists in 15 games. Reif warned that without addressing the underlying issues, Wirtz could eventually leave the club feeling dejected.