Steven Gerrard Expresses Confidence in Florian Wirtz’s Potential
Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has expressed his belief that young talent Florian Wirtz is set to make a significant impact in the Premier League next season. Gerrard, who once captained the Reds, has been following Wirtz’s journey closely and feels the German midfielder is ready to “take the league by storm” after a challenging first campaign in England.
Liverpool made a major statement by securing Wirtz’s signature last summer with a then-club-record £115m fee from Bayer Leverkusen. The move was seen as a bold investment in a player who had already proven himself in the Bundesliga, where he played a key role in helping Leverkusen win the title without a single defeat two years ago. However, the transition to English football has not been straightforward for the 22-year-old.
Wirtz admitted in an interview with TNT Sports that he initially found the physicality of the Premier League more intense than expected. He mentioned that he had more time on the ball in Germany, which made the pace and pressure of the English game a bit overwhelming at times.
Despite these challenges, Gerrard has noticed a positive evolution in Wirtz’s performance. The former Liverpool legend told TNT Sports: “The biggest difference for me is the size of his body and his shape. I think Liverpool have prepared him better for the Premier League. I think when he first arrived, he was very lightweight.”
Gerrard emphasized that Wirtz possesses the qualities of a true match-winner. “If you give this boy time and space, he’ll hurt you. He’s a match-winner, he’s a creator and he’s a No 9’s dream. He can get centre-forward’s a lot of chances. I want him to be more selfish. Sometimes, it’s as if he wants the assist more than the goal, but he’s got a lovely strike and lovely finish.”
Gerrard believes that Wirtz will find his footing in the coming season. “I think next season is the season. He was always going to take a period of time to adapt. It’s a big move and the pace of the game here in England is a lot different from Germany. I expect him to have a really strong pre-season off the back of a World Cup, and next year take this league by storm.”
The Anfield legend also highlighted the importance of maintaining physical strength. “He needs to stay physically strong because it’s a more robust league, there’s more duels, there’s more physicality. But in terms of the talent, that’s never not been there, because he did have the moments even when he wasn’t playing well. The thing is now, the team are executing his chances, the scorers are finishing.”
Gerrard’s words offer a sense of optimism for Wirtz’s future in the Premier League. With the right preparation and support, the German star could soon become a key figure for Liverpool and a dominant force in English football. His potential to thrive in the high-pressure environment of the top flight is evident, and many believe that the best is yet to come for the young midfielder.
