Hugo Ekitike sends Florian Wirtz warning after Germany criticism - 'You guys'

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Hugo Ekitike, Mohamed Salah and Florian Wirtz of Liverpool FC pose for a portrait during the official UEFA Champions League 2025/26 portrait session

Florian Wirtz has endured a mixed start to his Liverpool career since joining the club in deal worth up to £116m from Bayer Leverkusen earlier this summer.

The German claimed an assist on his debut for Hugo Ekitike in the Community Shield against Crystal Palace but is yet to register a goal contribution in the Premier League.

The 22-year-old has faced somewhat unfair criticism back in his native Germany for his quiet start at Anfield, though he did manage to silence his critics by scoring a stunning free-kick against Northern Ireland during the international break.

While Wirtz is yet to recreate his previous form in the Bundesliga with Liverpool, it has been a very different story for Ekitike.

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The Frenchman has shone for the Reds, returning three goals and an assist from his first four outings for the club as he became the first player to score in each of his first three appearances for the club since Daniel Sturridge in 2013.

Meanwhile, such form also earned him both a maiden international call-up and senior debut for France during the break.

The 23-year-old is expected to continue upfront for Arne Slot’s men away to Burnley on Sunday despite the club-record signing of Alexander Isak on transfer deadline day.

And with Wirtz likely to retain his place at number 10, Ekitike has leapt to the defence of his new team-mate as he insisted the best is still to come from the pair.

“Flo is a great, great player,” Ekitike said.

“He understands football I think as I understand football.

“We speak the same language on the pitch, so it’s kind of easy to have a connection with him.

“But I think you guys haven’t seen everything yet, better days are coming.

“But obviously the connection is good.

We’re almost the same age, same generation, yeah, we talk the same football [language] and even outside football he’s a good guy.”

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Wirtz is not the only player Ekitike is relishing playing alongside at Liverpool.

“I think I adapted well,” he told the club website.

“Obviously I still have things to improve, but I think it was a good [start].

“I feel good with the guys, they helped me to adapt here so obviously they make my football easier.

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“And when you play with good players like this, you can improve and you can have success like that.