Liverpool have new Philippe Coutinho to be unleashed and January transfer now inevitable

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Liverpool Echo IconSportFootballLiverpool FCFormer Liverpool full-back Glen Johnson is convinced Florian Wirtz will be a success at Anfield and Marc Guehi transfer move now very likelyFlorian Wirtz has been backed to become "world class" for Liverpool - and can replicate the impact of Philippe Coutinho with one small adjustment. Wirtz has experienced a slow start to his Reds career since arriving in a £116million deal from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, with just one assist and no goals in his first nine appearances.The 22-year-old is continuing to adapt to a new league and country playing alongside a raft of new signings following a busy recruitment drive from Liverpool.And former Reds defender Glen Johnson believes Wirtz has the capability to echo a former Anfield crowd favourite.READ MORE: Alisson Becker injury hint dropped as Liverpool wait on scan resultsREAD MORE: Florian Wirtz backed to 'show the English' after call for Liverpool axe"I can see some similarities between Florian Wirtz and Philippe Coutinho, but Phil had the end product reliably," said Johnson, who played alongside Coutinho for two-and-a-half years."He was short and sharp, and something would happen when he picked up the ball."I think Wirtz has that in him too, but he needs to sharpen up his brain before he receives the ball so he can act quicker.

Anyone can do that."Coutinho at Anfield, he always had that cutting edge more than Wirtz does right now."But look, he’s come with huge pressure on him, and there’s a lot of boxes he needs to tick."I think that’s going to take some time, while he settles, just like it is with Trent Alexander-Arnold at Real Madrid. It’s normal for players."Speaking on behalf of 10bet, Johnson added: "I think we’ve already seen moments from him in games where he’s looked world class.

You can tell from the way he angles himself, and the positions he’s taking up on the pitch."I think not every player can pick out what he’s doing just now, and once he settles in and his team-mates learn what he’s doing, he’ll be world class. But at some point there needs to be an end product more often than right now."Liverpool saw a £35m move for Mac Guehi collapse on transfer deadline day, but Johnson is convinced the Reds will make a fresh move for the England international in January."I don’t think Giovanni Leoni’s injury makes a move for Marc Guehi more likely, but I think they would have signed Guehi this winter anyway, because as good as Leoni looks, there are no guarantees with a youngster," said Johnson."If you have a chance to sign Marc, you just have to.