Wirtz explains Liverpool struggles after £116m transfer - 'I have to accept it'

Florian Wirtz has opened up on his difficult start to life at Liverpool, but the Germany international believes he is now a better player for the experience at Anfield

Florian Wirtz believes he has put his early Liverpool difficulties behind him, insisting he is continuing to grow since making the move to the Premier League. The German sensation endured a challenging settling-in period following his high-profile transfer from Bayer Leverkusen.

However, Wirtz is now establishing himself as a vital cog in the Reds' machine and is riding a wave of confidence after a stellar international break with Die Mannschaft, which yielded two goals and two assists in a 4-3 victory over Switzerland. The 22-year-old completed his move to the Premier League champions for £116million during the summer, and had to bide his time before truly showcasing his abilities at Anfield.

The Germany international was among the travelling party to the French capital with Liverpool looking for a repeat of their first-leg in Paris 12 months ago. Liverpool will be seeking revenge against Luis Enrique's side as they beat the Reds on course to their maiden Champions League crown last season after overcoming a first-leg defeat when they won on penalties at Anfield.

Wirtz has openly acknowledged that his debut spell under Arne Slot was far from straightforward, but is confident he has turned a corner and can elevate his game. He told TNT Sports: "I know that they paid a lot for me. I still think that I'm improving, it was a difficult start for me because I wanted to impact the team immediately.

"I have to accept it, I'm feeling very good now on a physical level. I'm feeling good in England now because this was a big change for me, now I'm trying to make the team better."

Wirtz will be eager to deliver a telling performance when Liverpool face Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final. The odds are firmly against the six-time champions, whose underwhelming season has been further tarnished by their embarrassing 4-0 FA Cup thrashing at the hands of Manchester City.

Defeat at the Etihad Stadium brought an end to Liverpool's hopes of adding domestic silverware to their trophy cabinet in a season where they have fallen short in defending their Premier League title. PSG are the reigning champions of Europe's premier club competition, and the backdrop to Liverpool's visit is clouded by their struggles in the top flight this season.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Wirtz revealed that fixtures like this are the ones he has always dreamed of being part of. He said: "These are the games you want to play as a player and I dreamt of when I came to this club.

"We try everything to do a good game tomorrow and next week also at Anfield. So yeah, these are the games you want to play as a player and for sure come through this round."