Jurgen Klopp recently rushed to the defence of Florian Wirtz due to the criticism he has faced this season, but Ally McCoist does not agree with the ex-Liverpool manager’s comments.
Florian Wirtz is attracting plenty of attention from the media this season as a result of his performances. He cost Liverpool £116m, so there is clearly an expectation that he should be providing an immediate impact in Arne Slot’s team.
However, Wirtz is yet to register a goal contribution in seven Premier League appearances and the same applies concerning his two starts in the Champions League.
Despite this, Jurgen Klopp defended Wirtz and even went as far as dubbing the 22-year-old a once-in-a-century talent.
Commentator and pundit Ally McCoist has responded to Klopp’s defence of Wirtz and he disagrees with the former Liverpool manager.
“I’m not sure I’d go that far,” McCoist told talkSPORT. “I think Jurgen’s maybe going over the top there.”
Klopp’s comments are likely a result of Wirtz performance’s in his home country last season. The former Bayer Leverkusen midfielder bagged 44 combined goal contributions in his final two Bundesliga campaigns.
While McCoist may not agree with Klopp, he does accept that Wirtz is facing more criticism than other underperforming new signings because of his hefty price tag.
“But I’ve certainly seen glimpses,” he continued. “He’s a very talented player, but probably not enough. But then there’s more focus on him.
“The left back’s not got going either, [Milos] Kerkez. [Jeremie] Frimpong’s not really got going.
“There are maybe three or four other signings that haven’t really got going, but obviously we focus on the one that they paid the most money on.”
Despite Wirtz’s slow start in a Liverpool jersey, McCoist has seen enough to believe there is hope that the talented youngster will find his way at Anfield.
He added: “But I’ve certainly seen glimpses. I mean the opening game of the Community Shield, he linked up with [Hugo] Ekitike and I thought man there’s plenty going on there. But he hasn’t yet kicked on, that’s for sure.”
Jeff Stelling agreed with McCoist regarding Klopp’s comments, but he did back Wirtz to start firing, whilst labelling him as ‘fantastic’.
“He’s a good player and I’m sure he will come good. It’s a bit of hype from Klopp, but I think he’s a fantastic player, I thought so before he came here. We haven’t seen the best of him, not by a million miles, but I’m sure we will as time goes on.
Wirtz returns to Liverpool having made two starts for Germany during the international break. He was unable to record any goals and assists, but his country did pick up a maximum six points in their two World Cup qualifying fixtures against Luxembourg and Northern Ireland respectively.
