Former Germany international Rudi Völler has defended Wirtz, stating he can perform at his best for both club and country, while also expressing frustration with the scrutiny the Liverpool star has faced over the past year.

The attacking midfielder has been going through a difficult period. Since his £116 million move to Anfield from Bayer Leverkusen, he has not consistently delivered the match-winning performances expected of him.

It was widely anticipated that he would need an adaptation period to settle into the Premier League. However, since the start of the new season, he has yet to show clear signs of being the decisive player Liverpool needs in crucial moments.

This has led to some criticism. Jamie Carragher suggested that new Reds boss Andoni Iraola needs to adjust the midfield to get results, even implying that Wirtz might be dropped from the starting XI in favour of other central midfielders.

The scrutiny is not confined to Liverpool. Former Germany international Toni Kroos also questioned Wirtz's performances during the World Cup this summer.

All of this has prompted many to come out in support of Wirtz, with both Iraola and Jürgen Klopp explicitly stating that the 23-year-old's contributions on the field extend far beyond mere statistics.

As the debate continues, Völler has also stepped forward to defend the Liverpool star, expressing anger at how he has been treated by some quarters.

He told Bild: "He has been there for a year, and the criticism from the English media is even harsher. What I see is a player who is doing everything he can to bring his excellent abilities to the English stage."

"Flo is still very young, and he is a world-class player! I know he will be very important and a key player for our national team. The same goes for future matches."

"He and Jamal (Musiala) represent our future. Yes, France and Spain have very strong squads. But I know that we are stronger than we have shown recently."

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