Liverpool head coach Arne Slot insists Florian Wirtz has brought "exactly what we expected" when they made him the club's first €117.5million signing in the summer.
The tag of record signing is not one which has sat well at Anfield this season as Alexander Isak, who usurped the Germany international with a €150m move from Newcastle which broke the all-time British mark, has also struggled for different reasons.
Wirtz, whose eventual fee could rise to €136m, arrived as one of Europe’s hottest properties but his only significant contribution so far has been two assists in their last Champions League outing against Eintracht Frankfurt a fortnight ago.
The 22-year-old has started just two of the last six, one of which was that game in his homeland which was comfortably his best performance.
But Slot has continued to ask for patience as the player’s adapts to a new life in England.
"I’ve said this quite a lot, not being used as an excuse, but many times we have to play three games in seven days with only two days’ rest in between," said the Dutchman ahead of the Champions League visit of Real Madrid.
"Nine out of 10 people would agree the Premier League is a bit more intense (than the Bundesliga), especially in all the games, so if you look at that then he already played a lot.
"He has had his impact in a lot of games but has been unlucky with the end product either by himself or his team-mates.
"For me, he exactly brought what we expected – a player who created a lot for the team.
"He will have his goals but I don’t think it comes as a surprise to anyone that if you’re 22 or 23 and come to a different league that you might need some time to adjust to that intensity.
"Ryan Gravenberch was sitting here before (at the press conference) and it took him a while to adjust to the intensity, maybe even longer than it is going to take Florian."
Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso also had words of encouragement for Wirtz, who played a key role in Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen side winning the Bundesliga in 2024.
His former manager said: "I have no doubts. It is just a matter of time. It is a big change for him to come to Liverpool after so many years in Germany, he’s been there all his life.
"He is a really special player. He has quality and personality and he’s competitive. 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 (at Real Madrid) so I’m very grateful to Flo. Hopefully not tomorrow, but I’ve no doubt he will show his quality and class."
Tuesday will see the first return to Anfield of academy graduate Trent Alexander-Arnold (above), whose departure in the summer was so acrimonious he was booed by his own fans when it was made public.
He is likely to get a similar reception from the crowd but his former team-mates and manager will welcome him back with open arms.
"I have great memories of the player and the human being. He was my vice-captain last season and I have memories of working with him which were only positive," said Slot.
"How the fans…. I have no clue how that’s going to be but he gets a warm welcome from me, that’s for sure."
That sentiment was echoed by midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, who added: "He is obviously a friend of mine so I will give him a hug, of course."
Alonso wants Alexander-Arnold to enjoy his first return to Anfield, despite an anticipated hostile reception after the Liverpool academy graduate's decision not to renew his contract and leave.
"We haven’t spoken about that precisely, but we have spoken about the team, the club," said Alonso, whose previous returns as a 2005 Champions League winner with Liverpool have been much more welcoming.
"He has to have his own feelings and enjoy it his own way, so I am not going to say how he needs to feel.
"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.
"So he needs to enjoy that moment because it is nice to be back and for him it is going to be nice."
Madrid opted to train in Spain before flying out, but after the press conference Alexander-Arnold laid a personal tribute at the temporary Anfield memorial to former team-mate Diogo Jota, who died in a car crash in July. Dean Huijsen, alongside Alonso and director of football Emilio Butragueno, presented the club’s official one.
In a handwritten message Alexander-Arnold wrote: "My mate Diogo. You are so missed but still so loved. Yours and Andre’s memory will always live on. I smile every time I think about you and will always remember the great times we shared. Miss you mate, every day. Love Trent and family. Forever 20. YNWA"
A quirk of the fixture calendar means Liverpool face Real and Manchester City in back-to-back matches for the second successive season, although last March they were both at home.
Slot insists the situation is incomparable as both teams have changed much in the interim.
"It is not the same because last season we faced a Real Madrid who had many injuries and now they haven’t. It is not the same because last season we were a different team than now where now all the injuries are back.
"But every moment we play at that moment in time and every single time is always a test to see where we are."
Watch Republic of Ireland v Panama in the FIFA Under-17 World Cup on Wednesday from 12.20pm on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on the RTÉ News App and on rte.ie/sport
Watch Manchester City v Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Wednesday from 7pm on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on the RTÉ News App and on rte.ie/sport
