'Could open a can of soup' - Liverpool legend reveals how to get the best out of Florian Wirtz after £116m man's slow start

Wirtz joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in a club-record transfer but has struggled to find rhythm in his early weeks in England. Despite showing flashes of his Bundesliga brilliance, he remains without a goal or assist after eight appearances in major competitions. His inability to connect consistently with Isak and Ekitike has been highlighted as a major reason behind his quiet start.

Dalglish urged patience while emphasising the need for understanding between Liverpool’s new-look attack. “The first thing he needs to do is what he's doing at the moment. He's great at taking the ball into the feet, he'll open himself up and the pass has beat you but he's still got control of it,” he told the Stick To Football podcast. “Once he gets on the same wavelength with the others... by the way, that wee fella, he could open a can of soup. For me and Rushy, it was training where we learned. I told him, ‘If there’s a space, just leave it, I’ll play it and you go for it.’ Simple.”

Wirtz’s struggles have come amid Liverpool’s recent dip in form, with back-to-back defeats in the Champions League and Premier League raising concerns. Jamie Carragher also criticised the midfielder after the loss to Galatasaray, calling for more end product. Slot’s side, however, remain two points clear at the top, suggesting there’s time for Wirtz to adapt.

Liverpool face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this weekend in a key test of their title credentials. Wirtz will be hoping to open his account and silence critics by delivering a standout performance. With Dalglish’s advice in mind, building attacking chemistry could be crucial to turning his promising touches into decisive contributions.