Virgil van Dijk details how Florian Wirtz can ignite Liverpool career after latest setback

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If few know what it has been like to be Florian Wirtz in the last few months, Virgil van Dijk probably has a better idea than most, and not merely because he is a Liverpool FC teammate. Even when he thought he did, Liverpool’s equaliser against Sunderland on Wednesday was instead deemed a Nordi Mukiele own goal.Wirtz has been benched for four demanding Premier League games.

“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.”Florian Wirtz reacts during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Sunderland at Anfield (AFP/Getty)It helped Van Dijk that there was an early upturn after his signing. Four months into his time at Liverpool, he was playing in a Champions League final whereas, at the equivalent stage, Wirtz is in a team that has been beaten nine times in 14 games.

He had his part in the leveller against Sunderland and excelled on Sunday at West Ham but he remains without an assist as well as a goal in the Premier League.Other statistics show Wirtz in the top 20 for most chances created in the division this season and Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann has argued the problem is that Liverpool have missed them. But perhaps it was typical that even when he thought he had scored, he had not.