Richard Keys Blasts £250,000-a-Week Liverpool Star's Performances This Season

Premier League pundit Richard Keys has blasted Florian Wirtz for his poor start to life at Liverpool, following on from their late 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon.

Wirtz joined the Reds from Bayer Leverkusen in June for a fee of £116million, which broke the British transfer record at the time, prior to their addition of Alexander Isak from Newcastle United on transfer deadline day. However, his career hasn't gone to plan so far on Merseyside. Barring an assist on his debut in the Community Shield, Wirtz has failed to record a goal or assist in any competition for the Reds, including six Premier League games in which he has started five of them.

Keys: Liverpool Star Florian Wirtz 'Must be Questioned' for Poor Anfield Start

The latest of those came at Selhurst Park, where the Eagles ended Liverpool's five-game win streak to start the season, with Wirtz featuring in 74 minutes of football before being substituted for Federico Chiesa, who came on to score the equaliser prior to the defeat.

And, although Keys acknowledged that Palace are on a strong run of form themselves after going 18 unbeaten in all competitions, he stated that he wasn't convinced with £250,000-a-week star Wirtz - stating that questions will be asked about the German sooner rather than later, before questioning what he actually does for the team. Keys wrote in his personal blog:

"I wasn’t surprised to see Palace beat Liverpool. What a run Palace are on - 18 unbeaten now. I’m still not convinced by Liverpool. I don’t think they’re as good as their results suggest. If we’re all honest we enjoyed seeing them ‘Liverpooled’ didn’t we? The late winner was deserved. Like me, how long before others start asking questions of Wirtz? What does he do?"

It's a far cry from last season for the 22-year-old. Wirtz registered 16 goals and 15 assists for Leverkusen last season, including six strikes in the Champions League, but that form has yet to be seen this season.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Florian Wirtz has eight goals in 33 caps for Germany.

Time may run out for him to keep his place in the starting XI, with Dominik Szoboszlai replacing him in the hole, and that could have implications on his impact at Anfield if he is only relegated to substitute appearances until he finally gets himself into creative form.

Liverpool are expected to win the league once again after their big summer spending, but if their mega-money stars such as Wirtz can't produce the goods, it could be a tough ask to retain the trophy.

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