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49 minutes ago
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Florian Wirtz should ignore his Premier League numbers and not lose confidence in his world-class ability at Liverpool, believes Virgil van Dijk.
Liverpool’s £116m summer signing thought he had scored his first goal for the club against Sunderland on Wednesday only for the 81st-minute equaliser to be deemed an own goal by defender Nordi Mukiele. The decision means the 22-year-old is still without a goal or an assist in 13 league appearances for the champions. Van Dijk, however, is convinced Wirtz is on the right path at Liverpool and will prove he is an elite level player.
The Liverpool captain said: “There’s a very good reason why a club like us bought him: he’s an outstanding, world-class player in my eyes who can only become even better but it will take a bit of time. For him he has to stay level-headed, don’t get too high, don’t get too low. Don’t get dragged into the outside world of when it’s very good or very bad and don’t get dragged into the numbers game.
“Nowadays there are a lot of eyes on if you score goals or have an assist or keep clean sheets but it is also about what you see and the contribution you have for the team, that’s not just shown in the numbers but in what you see and that should sometimes be the focus. He was involved in the equaliser but he did many other good things, in the last game [at West Ham] as well.”
Van Dijk spoke to Wirtz about the pressure that comes with a big-money transfer – the Netherlands captain cost a then world record sum for a defender when joining Liverpool for £75m in 2018 – but does not believe that is the issue with the Germany international.
“In the beginning [we spoke about the fee] but that’s normal,” van Dijk added. “You can talk about it as much as you want, do whatever you want, but you have to deal with it yourself. You have to experience it and he did. He just has to keep going. He is still such a young, talented boy who came to the club for a lot of money but he didn’t pay that money, he’s part of the bigger picture of trying to be a success here.
“It’s about getting going. Start working and just enjoy being part of the biggest club in the world and fight for the badge and show your qualities each and every day. I’m pretty sure it will be fine, but at the moment we are all trying to find consistency on the pitch with our results and we need everyone in their best shape. He needs us in our best shape and we need him in our best shape and that’s what we’re trying to find.”
Liverpool were laboured against Sunderland and created little. Mohamed Salah was dropped for the second game in succession but re-introduced at half-time with Arne Slot disappointed by Cody Gakpo’s performance.
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Van Dijk, whose error led to the visitors’ goal, said: “Mo has been like he should be: disappointed. But we need him and he will still be important like he has been. He is a fantastic player and we have to remember there is a reason why he has been so successful at the club and we have to respect that. I need him around as one of the leaders. I’m not worried.
“It’s not like you have unlimited credit, everyone has to perform. Mo has been doing that but the manager made that decision in the last two games. We all want the best for the club. I am pretty sure Mo will still be a big part of what we are trying to achieve because he is an amazing player and he has shown it consistently. But like I said with Flo, we are all trying to find consistency and he needs us to be in our best shape.”
