Numbers UP for Wirtz in a matter of time

FLORIAN WIRTZ has had his ‘bravery’ to choose Liverpool over Bayern Munich commended by former striker Neil Mellor, who has backed an “unbelievable player" to eventually flourish in the Premier League.

- By PAUL GORST

FLORIAN WIRTZ has had his ‘bravery’ to choose Liverpool over Bayern Munich commended by former striker Neil Mellor, who has backed an “unbelievable player" to eventually flourish in the Premier League.

Wirtz had been tracked by Manchester City and Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich but Anfield was his destination of choice after the Premier League winners struck a deal worth up to £116million with Bayer Leverkusen in June.

Germany international Wirtz was widely viewed as one of the finest young talents on the continent when he made his switch to Merseyside in the summer but the attacking midfielder has yet to truly get going under Arne Slot.

Liverpool have suffered seven defeats in their last 10 and Wirtz has suffered at times in the more physical and combative Premier League.

Mellor, though, thinks it is only a matter of time before Reds fans see the best of the 22-year-old as the 2005 Champions League winner gave a firm insistence that the creative Wirtz will eventually show his class.

“I was made up when he signed for Liverpool,” Mellor told Sky Sports News.

“And I was thinking: ‘Phew, that's brave!’