Wirtz has stated that he is ready to embrace Andoni Iraola's demands and insists he can be one of the leaders at Liverpool.

Wirtz also declared that the club should not talk about a transition season under the new manager, with the £116 million midfielder hoping to win trophies at Anfield.

Wirtz became the most expensive signing in Liverpool's history when he joined from Bayer Leverkusen last summer. That record was broken in September when Alexander Isak joined for £125 million from Newcastle United.

Following Mohamed Salah's departure, high expectations have been placed on this expensive duo this season. Wirtz himself faced scrutiny during his time at the club, especially in the first few months when he appeared not yet adapted to the physicality and pace of the Premier League.

The 23-year-old attacking midfielder admitted that he was very demanding of himself last season, but he believes he is now ready to take on responsibility before Liverpool's first home Premier League match of the season against Nottingham Forest.

Wirtz told Sky Germany: "I've always been very self-critical. I think that's what you need to be at the very top and be a world-class player.

"That's always been my goal, so you have to be honest with yourself and also be strict with yourself and see where things didn't go well and where you still need to improve. That's why I'm always very honest with myself.

"Of course, you don't need to dwell on something for days or weeks, but it's something that continues every day, so you have to pick yourself up as quickly as possible and believe in yourself again.

"I like to take responsibility. I may not always be the loudest on the pitch or in the dressing room.

"But I will still lead the team with my style of play and positioning, and I will also help my teammates.

"Of course, we have many players in our team who are willing to follow, but I've been here for a year now and I'm more familiar with the club.

"So I think I can absolutely take the lead and bring the club back to where it belongs. I feel like I've improved in almost every aspect.

"This is especially true on a physical level. I also have to push myself to the limit every day in training, because there are some top players here who give their all every day, and the quality is very high.

"You also have to maintain a very good standard yourself. Training with top players every day makes you stronger, and when the season really starts, you're playing a top-level game every three days.

"At that point, you have almost no other choice but to get better. So I think I have indeed improved both technically and physically.

"Of course, this is also the first time I've stepped out of my comfort zone at home to live in another country and another culture, so last year had a big impact on me, especially because things weren't always easy, and they didn't always go the way you hoped.

"But I've taken away a lot of positives and I've really grown from it."

After winning the title in 2024, Liverpool dropped to fifth place, and there has been much discussion about what success should look like in Iraola's first season. But Wirtz is clear that for a club of Liverpool's size, the goal should always be to win the title. He said: "It's simple.

"I think the reason I came here is because I want to achieve something with the club. Liverpool has always won titles, or at least always competed for them.

"Yes, we want to get back to that position, and I want to contribute to that."

Wirtz's second season at Anfield will be under a different system with Iraola, who replaced Arne Slot in early June and signed a two-year contract.

Iraola revealed during the club's pre-season tour of the United States that he sees Wirtz as his "number 10" and has asked him to be the creative hub of the team in the new season.

Wirtz said: "He wants to continue playing intense football, with a lot of pressing. Your tasks are actually very clear.

"Of course, now we have to make it work as a whole. It's not just about everyone doing their own thing well, but also about everything working together. But he really made a good impression on me.

"I think he can convince a lot of players, and we as a team can understand what he wants. I think this is definitely a good start, and the players believe in it, and I hope it will be successful in the end."

AF's PC site is now live! Browse full news, comments, match details and stats on your computer. Visit: www.allfootballapp.com