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Florian Wirtz has had a rocky start at Liverpool, since his £116m transfer from Bayer Leverkusen, but the German is determined to turn things around. Despite the fanfare that greeted his arrival, the 22-year-old playmaker has faced criticism for his quiet start under Arne Slot's champions.

Wirtz hasn't yet scored or assisted in the Premier League and was also left on the subs bench for recent matches against Everton and Chelsea. His only goal contribution so far was an assist on his debut, against Crystal Palace in the Community Shield, with the playmaker having now made 10 appearances in all competitions for the club.

Given his hefty price tag - and high expectations - many pundits have been quick to comment on Wirtz's displays and Slot's use of him, increasing scrutiny on the player and club. Despite this, Wirtz has received plenty of backing from Germany, with several legends confident he'll soon show his true quality at Liverpool.

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In the meantime, Wirtz will be hoping to make an impression during October's international break. Germany are set to host Luxembourg in their latest World Cup qualifier on Friday, before heading to Northern Ireland on Monday.

Wirtz did at least score a stunning free-kick during the previous international break in their reverse fixture against Michael O'Neill's team, with the strike remaining his only goal for club or country so far this season. Now, ahead of Germany's upcoming matches, the midfielder has reportedly been putting in additional training sessions in a bid to rediscover his best form.

After Germany's training session concluded on Tuesday, BILD reported that Wirtz remained on the training pitches for extra shooting drills before heading to the gym for a further weights workout. Germany colleague David Raum has also been quoted singing the praises of the Liverpool man - while confirming the extra effort Wirtz is making in training for the national team.

"The boy is hardworking and shows energy on and off the pitch," he said. "He was once again one of the longest players on the pitch today.

"We believe in the boy, we're building him up here. But he also knows what he's capable of."

Considering the player's ongoing adjustment to the physical rigours of the Premier League, along with his limited goal-scoring record this campaign, the supplementary work Wirtz is undertaking on the training ground can only benefit him on both counts as he attempts to launch his Liverpool career and, consequently, silence his doubters.

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