Liverpool manager Arne Slot insists Florian Wirtz has been 'unlucky'

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has insisted Florian Wirtz has been so “unlucky” in his start to life in the Premier League with the reigning champions.

Wirtz joined Liverpool in a summer move that broke the British record transfer for a fee in the region of £116.5 million, made up of a £100 million plus £16.5 million in potential add-ons from German giants Bayer Leverkusen.

The German international earned a reputation as one of the most promising young talents in world football during his time in the Bundesliga.

Wirtz has shown some glimpses of quality for Liverpool, but not as explosive as expected for a player with such a high price tag.

The attacking midfielder has also failed to deliver at the opposition end with goals and assists for the Reds. The 22-year-old has so far recorded zero goals, with only two assists to his name.

However, his manager has backed him, saying the German midfielder is working really hard to turn things around for himself after a difficult start to life at Merseyside.

The Dutch manager feels that Wirtz has been unlucky not to have delivered the goals and assists expected of him so far.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – Sunday, August 31, 2025: Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC at Anfield. Liverpool won 1-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Following Liverpool’s vital 1-0 win at Anfield in the Champions League against the 15-time winners Real Madrid, Slot praised Wirtz for his work ethic in trying to remedy his current situation.

“If you come from a different league and you have to play every two days and there are so many away games against teams with a certain style of play, you need to adapt to that,” Slot said.

“And that goes almost for everyone, let alone for a player that’s 22. And I think he’s working incredibly hard to adapt as soon as he can, and he’s been so unlucky throughout his career here at Liverpool.”