Former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann has delivered a stark warning to Florian Wirtz, suggesting the club's £115 million signing has just one month to save his Anfield career.
Liverpool's Crisis Deepens
The reigning Premier League champions are experiencing their worst run of form since the 1950s, having lost nine of their last twelve matches across all competitions. This dramatic slump has seen Liverpool drop into the bottom half of the table, now sitting 11 points behind leaders Arsenal.
Manager Arne Slot oversaw a stunning £400 million spending spree during the summer transfer window, but the new additions have failed to deliver the expected impact. Among the most concerning signings has been German international Florian Wirtz, whose struggles have become symbolic of Liverpool's wider problems.
Wirtz's Worrying Statistics
The 22-year-old attacking midfielder arrived from Bayer Leverkusen with high expectations but has yet to justify his record-breaking price tag. Wirtz remains without a single goal or assist in his 11 Premier League appearances for the Reds.
Hamann expressed serious concerns about Wirtz's adaptation to English football, telling Coin Poker: "Florian Wirtz has had chances to perform. He's had chances over the last six to eight weeks, where the team hasn't really fired since the start of the season."
The former Germany international highlighted that Wirtz featured in matches against Bournemouth, Newcastle, and Burnley - games Liverpool won despite underwhelming performances - but failed to make his mark.
The Christmas Deadline
Hamann believes the young German has until the festive period to turn his fortunes around. "I think he's got until Christmas now to show his worth," Hamann stated, acknowledging the challenge is compounded by the team's collective struggles.
The pundit didn't mince words about potential consequences, suggesting Wirtz could be offloaded as early as January if his form doesn't improve. When pressed on whether this meant a loan move, Hamann confirmed: "Could he go somewhere else on loan? Yeah."
Hamann analysed Wirtz's playing style, noting: "He doesn't look happy at the moment. He's a player who learned football on the streets, and that's how he played for Leverkusen... Now he doesn't do that anymore, he thinks too much."
The former midfielder observed that Wirtz appears to be working excessively in defensive phases, potentially at the expense of his attacking contributions. "He was brought in to affect games on the other side of the pitch, and he hasn't done it so far," Hamann remarked.
Liverpool's crisis reached new depths during the week with a 4-1 Champions League thrashing by PSV, increasing pressure on Slot and his struggling squad. The manager will be desperate for an improved performance when his team travels to face West Ham on Sunday.
Despite the criticism, Hamann offered a glimmer of hope, noting that recent performances have shown Wirtz "is not the problem" in isolation. However, the clock is ticking for the German international to prove he belongs at Anfield.
