Florian Wirtz delivered a better performance for Liverpool on Wednesday as he finally claimed a second assist of the season against LASK.

The German has been in the spotlight in recent weeks, with big question marks beginning to form over his suitability in the Reds’ current set-up. Jamie Carragher has been vocally critical of Wirtz, and though he answered back to some extent in midweek, the concerns over his performances – and why they are so poor – will not disappear.

Confidence is Wirtz’s main issue – Gerrard

One of Wirtz’s worst displays so far came on Sunday against Manchester City, when he failed to make any kind of impact on the game. Worse than that, the No. 7 kept giving simple passes away, something which has become a feature of his game at Liverpool.

According to Gerrard, this is a confidence problem. Speaking on Stick To Football on Thursday, the Scouser suggested that if Andoni Iraola can get Wirtz feeling like himself again, then he will solve the issue entirely.

“I’m not denying that he’s underperforming and that we should have seen an awful lot more in terms of the price tag and what have you, but I just think that there’s a chance, and it’s happened previously, where players can turn it round. I think he’s got the talent to turn it round,” Gerrard said.

“I watch him for Germany, a different player, completely different player,” the former captain added. “He just seems to be playing with his shoulders back, different energy, getting on the ball. He’s turning in pockets of space. He’s actually executing in the final third in terms of his passes.

“You’ve seen it at Leverkusen. I know it’s a different level, but you’re watching a different player. I think it’s confidence and the price tag.”

If it is largely a confidence issue, as Gerrard seems convinced that it is, then the appointment of Jurgen Klopp at Germany really should help.

Klopp has already put his arm around Wirtz and made him captain of a young team during his first break as boss of the national team, and the former Liverpool manager could be just what the attacking midfielder needs.

Confidence is a difficult thing to gain and a brittle thing to break, though, and while Klopp and his display against LASK can pick him up to a degree, Wirtz needs to look within himself and get back to his former levels. If he cannot, his time at Liverpool may not last for much longer.