Florian Wirtz given Liverpool deadline to make impact as struggles continue

Former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann believes that struggling Reds star Florian Wirtz must begin to deliver the goods before Christmas arrives. Wirtz has failed to find the net or provide an assist since his £116million switch from Bayer Leverkusen this summer.

The German's sluggish start at Anfield has prompted Reds legend Jamie Carragher to suggest he deserves a spell warming the bench. Yet no Premier League player has carved out more opportunities for teammates across all competitions this campaign than the 22-year-old.

Wirtz completed his first full 90 minutes for Liverpool on Tuesday evening during the Champions League defeat at Galatasaray. The forward saw one strike kept out and laid on openings for Alexander Isak and Conor Bradley in Istanbul.

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But Hamann reckons tolerance is starting to run out with his fellow countryman. He shares his view that the German international must deliver a goal or assist before the festive period arrives in December.

"Florian Wirtz also needs to start performing better for Liverpool. He's played nine games, and he's barely done anything," he told Sky Sports Germany.

"Liverpool could have lost all the close games they won at the start of the season. There was a lot of luck involved, too.

"It's not entirely his fault, but he needs to make sure he decides a game or two, scores a goal, or provides assists between now and Christmas. Premier League football is almost a different sport to the Bundesliga.

"There, he hardly had any opponents who really challenged him, and he was always the best on the pitch.

"Now, opponents are giving even more when they play against him, because they want to show him where the hammer hangs. In the first few games, the ball was stolen from his feet more often than in the Bundesliga all year.

"Something has to happen with him now. He has to deliver, otherwise the discussions will erupt, not only externally but also within the club."

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