Cast your mind back to last summer and Florian Wirtz’s stock was at a record high.

Another terrific campaign for Bayer Leverkusen saw the attacking midfielder accrue 31 goal involvements across all competitions, building on a headline-making 2024/25 that resulted in the German ace being voted Bundesliga Player of the Season.

Having fended off reported interest from Real Madrid and other prestigious suitors Liverpool had just spent over £100m for his services and before a ball had even been kicked many were labelling him the best signing of the window. Reds fans were excited at the prospect of his elite ingenuity adding something significant to their title-winning side. Rival supporters were begrudgingly admitting on forums and podcasts that Arne Slot’s collective were even stronger now as a consequence.

Yet, bringing matters to the present it is fair to say that the heightened state of expectation has not been met, the 23-year-old struggling to make any sort of meaningful impact in English football. In October, Wirtz was again nominated for a Ballon d’Or after finishing 12th in 2024, while there have unquestionably been glimpses of his brilliance, in the form of well-taken goals and the occasional influential display.

There have been highlights for sure, just not enough of them.

Elsewhere, the player nicknamed ‘fussballgott’ (Football God) by an adoring Bayer fanbase has encountered criticism for a series of ineffectual performances, such as we witnessed at Old Trafford last week as Liverpool were downed by their historic rivals Manchester United.

All of which makes Arne Slot’s recent comments about a possible generational talent for Germany both pertinent and fascinating, the coach insisting that Wirtz’s journey to the top is still nowhere near complete.

Speaking ahead of his team’s visit to Manchester, he said:

"His improvement, he was already an elite player, has been for me obvious.”

“It will only continue. He was 23 on Sunday. That makes sense, every player is at his best at 25, 26. He can only become better. That is the beauty of the signings we made."

Slot of course is duty-bound to keep faith in such an expensive purchase, a player touted – and to some degree obligated – to inspire the club to winning trophies. If he is correct in his assessment, though, then much better things lies ahead for both the Merseysiders, and a star player who has already proven elsewhere he possesses all the ability in the world.