Jurgen Klopp has heaped praise on Florian Wirtz after the midfielder scored during the head coach’s first win in the Germany hot seat.
Wirtz played a pivotal role in the country’s 2-0 win over Serbia, setting up Tom Bischof’s opener before scoring a fine goal himself to seal the victory.
The strike was the midfielder’s first of the season for club and country and Klopp made sure to give Wirtz one of his famous bear hugs following full-time in appreciation for the performance.
‘The way we want to play suits Flo Wirtz,’ Klopp said in the post-match press conference. ‘I think everyone in Liverpool is very happy today. The boy is brimming with joy in his play and has worked incredibly hard.’
Wirtz played like a man with a point to prove after a difficult start to the club campaign with Liverpool.
Criticism toward the £116million man has been growing after a series of underwhelming displays in Red in the opening five games of the season, with his performance against Bournemouth before the international break described by club legend Jamie Carragher as ‘one of the poorest I’ve ever seen him in a Liverpool shirt’.
Germany boss Jurgen Klopp has heaped praise Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz
Wirtz bagged a goal and an assist during a 2-0 win over Serbia to record Klopp his first win as Germany boss
But prior to Germany’s win over Serbia – Klopp’s first as head coach at the third time of asking – the former Reds boss defended Wirtz publicly in an effort to instil much-needed confidence in the player.
‘When you look at the full context, you will find that Florian joined Liverpool at an absolutely unfavourable time related to the death of Diogo Jota,’ Klopp said.
‘He joined a team whose players’ priority at that time was not football, which is very understandable. He learned a lot from his first year. Now there is a new season under the leadership of a new coach.
‘He is delivering a very good level physically, and the team has begun to regain its cohesion once again.
‘Attacking players always need a team that works well around them. And anyone who loves football can still see how outstanding Florian Wirtz is as a player.’
Germany play their fourth and final game of the international break on Sunday against Greece, as they look for revenge after their disappointing 1-0 defeat in the reverse fixture.
The Premier League returns the following week as Liverpool host scandal-riddled Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday, October 11.
