Key Points
- Liverpool manager Steven Gerrard has told his players not to “give up” on Germany international Florian Wirtz despite his poor start at Anfield.
- According to Gerrard, Wirtz’s confidence has been affected but he is still a “major talent” that requires patience rather than dismissal.
- Former Liverpool player Gerrard revealed that, in case all players were fully fit, some rest for Wirtz would be good for his confidence level.
- Moreover, Gerrard stated that Wirtz must “do more” and be consistent in delivering assists and goals.
- Furthermore, Gerrard spoke about another new player – winger Bradley Barcola, and his hat-trick against LASK in Liverpool’s Champions League match was very important for him in terms of confidence and feeling of belonging to the team.
- In addition, it should be noted that Wirtz assisted Barcola with his second goal in Liverpool’s 6-3 victory over LASK, thus making his second assist of the season.
- This piece of news was originally reported by The Overlap Daily and then picked up by the Liverpool Echo, This Is Anfield, ESPN and others.
Liverpool (Liverpool standard) October 20, 2026 – Steven Gerrard has sent a clear message to Liverpool’s coaching staff and senior players over Florian Wirtz, urging them to support the German midfielder through a challenging adaptation period rather than give up on him. As reported by the Liverpool Echo, Gerrard made the remarks while discussing Wirtz and Bradley Barcola on The Overlap Daily.
Gerrard, Liverpool’s former captain, said that anyone working closely with Wirtz should recognise his ability and help him through the pressure created by his high-profile move to Anfield. As reported by This Is Anfield, he said: “I would be thinking, if you’re on the Liverpool staff or you’re a Liverpool senior player, this kid is a talent.”
He added: “Don’t give up on him. This is not just Florian Wirtz. I’m talking about any young kid who has a dip in form or who is finding it hard to cope with a price tag.”
Gerrard continued:
“Let’s work with him. Let’s try and help him, let’s support him. Let’s get him in a better place, and that’s when I think you will see the consistency.”
The former England midfielder did not avoid criticism of Wirtz. He accepted that the playmaker has not met expectations since arriving at Liverpool, but argued that the response should be practical support rather than a rushed conclusion about his future. As reported by This Is Anfield, Gerrard said Wirtz “has to perform better and give more”.
Why Does Gerrard Believe Wirtz Needs Support?
Gerrard said Wirtz’s confidence has been affected by his slow start, while stressing that the midfielder should not be written off at this stage. As reported by ESPN, Gerrard previously said that Wirtz “coming out of the team” could be one way to help his confidence and form improve.
In comments reported by SportBible, Gerrard said: “His confidence is shot. He’s not playing well enough. We need to see more from Wirtz.”
He added: “So, I agree with Jamie Carragher to that extent. But I think Jamie’s more like, he needs to be moved to the side. I think the kid needs help. I think he needs help from his manager, from his coaches. I think he needs help from his senior players.”
Gerrard also said that Wirtz may be “beating himself up” over how his Liverpool career has begun. As reported by GiveMeSport, he said: “I can just picture him beating himself up on how his Liverpool thing started. This kid is a major talent in my opinion. I’ve seen enough to believe and give him a chance.”
The Liverpool great argued that a stronger and more available attacking group could also improve Wirtz’s opportunities. In remarks quoted by LFC Transfer Room, Gerrard said:
“If Liverpool can get Barcola, Isak, Muñoz, Ekitike, and Ngumoha all firing and fit, I think Wirtz will feel better and he’ll have more forward runs in the team. He’ll have better players around him.”
Could Wirtz Benefit From Being Left Out?
Gerrard suggested that a short absence from the starting line-up could benefit Wirtz, provided Liverpool have sufficient attacking options available. As reported by ESPN, he believes that being removed from the team could help the midfielder reset after a disappointing beginning to the campaign.
In comments reported by LFC Transfer Room, Gerrard said: “Sometimes, perhaps if everyone was fit and available then maybe the best thing is for him to come out the team. Have a couple of games on the bench.”
He added that watching from the sidelines could create a productive response from Wirtz: “Sometimes watching the team and being gutted that someone else is thriving in your position, that little bit of fear, could help Florian Wirtz.”
Gerrard nevertheless repeated that Wirtz must take responsibility for improving his output. “He needs to do more. He needs to step up a bit more. He needs to realise the situation he’s in,” he said, according to SportBible.
He also questioned whether Wirtz has yet found his most effective role in England. “Is he suited to the Premier League? Is he getting knocked about a bit? Yes, he is,” Gerrard said, as reported by SportBible.
What Did Gerrard Say About Bradley Barcola?
Gerrard also addressed Bradley Barcola’s early Liverpool career, pointing to the France winger’s recent Champions League hat-trick against LASK as an important moment in his development. As reported in discussion of The Overlap Daily, Gerrard said the hat-trick was “really important for him personally”, giving Barcola confidence, belief and the feeling that he had “actually arrived at Liverpool”.
Barcola scored three times in Liverpool’s 6-3 victory over LASK, his first senior hat-trick and his first goals for the club. As reported by AOL, Wirtz assisted Barcola’s second goal in that match.
Gerrard’s assessment followed Barcola’s subsequent performance against Brentford, in which the winger provided an assist. As reported in coverage of Gerrard’s Overlap Daily appearance, he acknowledged that Barcola still had aspects of his game to develop, but recognised the overall threat he had shown across the two fixtures.
The Liverpool Echo reported that both Wirtz and Barcola had experienced slow starts to their Liverpool careers, but were showing signs of improvement.
What Is Wirtz’s Current Record At Liverpool?
Wirtz has yet to score for Liverpool in the 2026/27 season, despite featuring in every match, according to ESPN.
His assist for Barcola against LASK was his second assist in two appearances, as reported by This Is Anfield.
The Mirror reported that Wirtz has recorded seven goals and 13 assists in 58 games for Liverpool, underlining that the midfielder has produced contributions despite ongoing scrutiny over his overall form.
Gerrard said the attention on Wirtz has been intensified by his transfer fee, although he noted that the player did not set that valuation himself. As reported by This Is Anfield, Gerrard said the criticism had been “dramatised”, with people “jumping on the bandwagon”.
What Does Gerrard Expect From Liverpool’s Manager?
Gerrard said Liverpool’s manager needs Wirtz to become a consistent attacking influence. As reported by This Is Anfield, he said: “If you’re the manager of Liverpool, you need Wirtz to be shining. You need him playing well consistently, contributing goals and assists. That’s what the fans want.”
He contrasted that objective with what he described as the easier option of criticising the player or considering a sale. “The easy thing is to try and kill him and try to move him on and just wish him well,” Gerrard said, according to This Is Anfield.
Instead, he argued that Liverpool should focus on finding a solution. “When you just need to stop and think: ‘How can you fix it’?” he said.
Gerrard also expressed belief that Wirtz can recover from the current dip. “I’ve seen enough throughout his career and flashes in a Liverpool shirt to think that he can play through this and come out the other side,” he said, as reported by This Is Anfield.
Background Of The Development
Wirtz joined Liverpool amid major expectation after establishing himself as one of Europe’s leading creative midfielders. His move to Anfield placed him under immediate scrutiny, with supporters and pundits closely assessing his adaptation to the Premier League.
Barcola also arrived at Liverpool in a high-profile transfer. The Mirror reported that Liverpool’s proposed deal for the Paris Saint-Germain winger was worth a reported £123 million, with Gerrard saying at the time that Barcola could “take Liverpool to the next level”.
Gerrard’s latest comments come after Liverpool’s 6-3 Champions League win over LASK, in which Barcola scored a hat-trick and Wirtz registered an assist. The former Reds captain’s remarks were made on The Overlap Daily, a show that discussed Liverpool’s matches against Brentford and the form of Wirtz and Barcola.
How Could This Affect Liverpool Fans?
For Liverpool supporters, Gerrard’s message is likely to shape expectations around Wirtz in the coming weeks. His view suggests that patience may be required, particularly while the squad adapts to new players and manages availability issues.
Fans may see Wirtz’s role become a recurring talking point. If manager Andoni Iraola follows Gerrard’s suggestion that a spell out of the team could help, Wirtz’s omission from a matchday squad or starting XI could be interpreted as a planned reset rather than a rejection of the player.
For Barcola, the immediate impact could be greater confidence among supporters. His hat-trick against LASK and assist against Brentford offer early evidence that he can influence matches, although Gerrard’s comments indicate that consistency will now be the key measure of his progress.
More broadly, Liverpool fans should expect continued debate over whether Wirtz is best used as a number 10, whether the team’s attacking personnel can create more space for him, and whether short-term rotation could help him recover form. Gerrard’s position is that Liverpool should protect and develop Wirtz, while also demanding more from him as the season progresses.
