I have no doubts about Liverpool’s Wirtz – Real boss Alonso

Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz will come good at Anfield – according to his former manager Xabi Alonso.

The Germany international has struggled since his £100m summer move, but was a key role in Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen side winning the Bundesliga in 2024.

He scored 57 goals in 197 games for Leverkusen but has yet to hit the net for Liverpool – where Alonso himself spent five years as a player.

Alonso 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.”

Real face Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday in the Champions League, where a possible return for Trent Alexander-Arnold promises to make headlines.

Alexander-Arnold is another summer signing yet to hit top gear but Alonso thinks he will make his mark for Real.

“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,” Alonso said.

“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.”