Xabi Alonso explains how Liverpool can unleash 'very special' Florian Wirtz

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And a few years in Leverkusen."He needs to adapt but he is a really special player. He has quality and personality and he’s competitive, so when he makes that trick, it has happened with great players in the Premier League before and I’ve no doubts with Flo."He is very special and probably one of the reasons I’m here now, is because of Flo, so I’m very grateful to Flo.

Hopefully not tomorrow but I’ve no doubt he will show his quality and class."Alonso returns to Merseyside with Trent Alexander-Arnold as part of his los Blancos squad and a hostile atmosphere is expected for the former Liverpool defender following the acrimonious nature of his June move to the Spanish capital.Alonso, who won the 2005 Champions League at Anfield, says he has not spoken with Alexander-Arnold about the type of reception that is likely awaiting him on his first game at his former club since the summer switch.Alonso added: "We haven't spoken about [the emotion of the return], but we have spoken about the team, the club. So I am not going to say how he needs to feel it."For sure his history is different from mine, he was born and bred in Liverpool, I remember him from a young age in the academy and then coming to the first team and winning the Champions League.

Tomorrow he may play and after the injury he had we need his qualities; he has great qualities."He is in a new stage for him both sporting, physically and mentally. We need to give him what he needs because he is an exceptional player that we have in our squad."