Gary Lineker suggests when Florian Wirtz should start for Liverpool again, and he’s absolutely right - opinion

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Florian Wirtz was on the bench for Liverpool for the fourth time already this season. Many of the Reds’ stars have been under a lot of pressure so far this season, but none more so than Wirtz.He is yet to show why Liverpool spent £116m on him, even if he has had flashes of brilliance, with Arne Slot even putting him on the bench far more than he would have ever expected.Join our newsletter for news & smart analysis.

This was the case against Aston Villa, leaving many to wonder where he will fit into the team, especially given the competition for his place.Gary Lineker, however, believes that he will come good in the end, although he has suggested there is a specific time when he should be reintroduced to the starting XI. Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty ImagesFlorian Wirtz should start for Liverpool again when they regain their confidenceIt is clear that Wirtz has all the talent in the world, he just has not been able to show that on a consistent basis for one reason or another.

One of the factors, though, might simply be because almost everyone around him has also struggled for form, meaning he cannot shine as brightly as he has in the past.This is very much down to a confidence thing as everyone knows just how good Liverpool’s players really are, they are just going through a bit of a rough patch right now.This is why Lineker believes Wirtz should be kept out of the team until confidence has been restored among the XI, with this being when the German can get more minutes from the start.“It would also be good for Wirtz to come back into the team when there is confidence in it,” he said on The Rest Is Football.“I think that would be sensible man-management at the moment, take him out of the firing line a little bit and then, maybe just bring him on.“We know how good he is, he’s a really good player, and you don’t buy these players for the first three months, you buy them for years, and he is an exceptional young talent.READ MORE: Liverpool warned their pursuit of Dayot Upamecano could impact their chances of signing Marc Guehi“It will come good for him, as long as he’s mentally strong enough to deal with it as it won’t be easy for him. It’s not like he won’t be suffering from this.”Florian Wirtz may have to wait until after the international break for his chance againThe problem for Wirtz is that for Liverpool to get their confidence back up, they probably need a few easier games to help them settle down, but they do not have this at all.Up next is Real Madrid and then Manchester City, two games where it is hard to see him get many minutes given the quality they possess.The Reds will need a workmanlike midfield like they had against Villa, suggesting he does not make it into the team again.It is also far too risky given how physical these games will be, and if Liverpool’s confidence is not fully back like Lineker suggests, then he might have to sit it out.After these two matches, it is the international break and then they play against Nottingham Forest, PSV and West Ham, all games he has a chance in should he keep working hard in training.