Florian Wirtz is still yet to register a goal or an assist in the Premier League since his move from Bayer Leverkusen.
The Reds had a hugely successful summer in the transfer market and brought in some very exciting players, ones who many expected to come in and hit the ground running.
However, despite losing just one game, this has not happened and many of their new signings are yet to make a significant impact, with Wirtz being the most notable case.
Despite costing £116m, the 22-year-old is yet to show his full potential, with the playmaker nowhere near the levels he was showing in the Bundesliga.
He has not been as bad as others have perhaps made out, though, with the German still showing flashes of brilliance here and there.
Of course, some also just need time to adapt, and former Arsenal striker Ian Wright thinks he knows the exact reason why he has found it tricky so far.
The Premier League is another step up
There is no denying the quality of other leagues around the world, but Wirtz would not be the first player to arrive from the Bundesliga and struggle to adapt.
In Germany, players get a little bit more time on the ball and the emphasis is on attacking rather than defending, whereas the Premier League teams need to be good at both.
This is especially true for a team looking to win the title, and with Liverpool the reigning champions, teams are going to need to be much tougher if they are to beat them.
This physicality can be a big problem for certain players, and Wright believes that Wirtz may have been surprised by the demands of the league.
“I think that when players come from the Bundesliga, as good as they are, because he’s a top quality player Florian Wirtz, they come and they’re surprised by the pace and the level you have to play at in the Premier League,” Wright said on the Premier League Productions’ The Weekend.
“You come here and you play against Palace, Sunderland or Leeds, and they’re tough games, you need to get to the levels, his fitness levels, his strength levels to deal with the fatigue the Premier League can put on you.”
Although he has never needed to rely on strength before, this is something he will have to learn if he is to swim in this division rather than sink, because at the moment, he is heading towards the latter.
Florian Wirtz is almost there
All new signings need time but depending on how much they cost, some get a lot more than others.
Wirtz has, of course, already been written off by many rival fans, but Liverpool supporters can clearly see that there is a player in there somewhere.
He has shown glimpses and if he manages to get some consistency going, then it is only a matter of time before he explodes.
As well as this, at just 22, he has time on his side and plenty of chance to put on muscle or get a little bit quicker, meaning the prospect of player that Liverpool have on their hands is simply frightening.
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