James Pearce, The Athletic's Liverpool correspondent, suggested in his latest article that while Wirtz has indeed struggled at Liverpool, the two weeks spent with Klopp during the international break could prove a turning point.

Wirtz endured a difficult first season at Liverpool, and the start of this season has seen him reach his lowest point. In the match against Bournemouth, he repeatedly lost possession, showed a lack of confidence, and was substituted in the second half. However, Pearce emphasized that faith in Wirtz should not be abandoned prematurely, citing three reasons.

Klopp has a proven track record of reviving struggling players.

Pearce extensively reviewed how Klopp, after taking over Liverpool in 2015, transformed the team's mentality through his management. He recalled Klopp telling the players at the time, "You are responsible for winning, I am responsible for losing." This public and private support helped players like Lallana and Firmino overcome their difficulties. Pearce believes Klopp's strong backing of Wirtz at last week's press conference follows the same approach. Liverpool hopes this "Klopp effect" will influence Wirtz during the international break.

Wirtz's statistics are more positive than they appear.

Against Bournemouth, Wirtz created the joint-most chances (3) in the entire match, won 6 out of 8 duels (75%), and indirectly contributed to Isak's goal through his movement that drew defenders. Iraola also noted that Wirtz was significantly better in the second half than the first. Pearce believes these details show that Wirtz is not without contribution, but external expectations placed on him are unreasonably high.

Wirtz deserves patience.

Wirtz's statistics in his first season at Liverpool (7 goals and 8 assists in 49 appearances) were modest, but considering the team's overall imbalance at the time, he deserves credit for his efforts. Pearce wrote: "It would seem premature to lose faith in him so early into the Iraola era." He believes Wirtz still has the opportunity to prove himself, particularly under Klopp.

Pearce also referenced Carragher's harsh criticism—"Wirtz wouldn't be in my Liverpool lineup," "What I see is what he is," "The gap is too big, he won't make it"—but disagreed with this assessment. Instead, Pearce argues that Carragher overlooked the fact that Wirtz is only 23 years old, still has time to develop, and is working under a coach renowned for unlocking players' potential.

Pearce also drew a parallel between Wirtz and Alexander-Arnold. He pointed out that Alexander-Arnold also faced constant scrutiny during his time at Liverpool, but Klopp consistently backed him, ultimately helping him develop into a leader. Pearce believes Wirtz now needs the same support.

Finally, Pearce looked ahead to the crucial fixtures after the international break: Man City, LASK, Brentford, Villarreal, Brighton, Chelsea, and Arsenal. He wrote: "If Wirtz returns from international duty rejuvenated, Iraola's side will be a far more threatening prospect."

Pearce believes Wirtz is facing genuine difficulties, but it is too early to reach a final verdict. Klopp's proven management ability, Wirtz's encouraging statistics, and his youth all suggest he still has a genuine opportunity to turn things around.

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