Bayern Munich star called Florian Wirtz about Liverpool struggles as 'doubt' claim made

Joshua Kimmich has shared that he has contacted Florian Wirtz as his Germany team-mate continues to experience a turbulent beginning to his Liverpool career. The Reds saw off competition from the likes of Bayern Munich and Man City to secure the playmaker from Bayer Leverkusen in a transfer worth up to £116m this summer. Yet, with Arne Slot's squad battling poor form, the 22-year-old has failed to live up to his substantial transfer fee. The defending Premier League champions have suffered defeat in five of their previous six fixtures across all competitions and currently sit seven points behind league-toppers Arsenal . Meanwhile, Wirtz has yet to record a goal contribution in the English top-flight, reports the Liverpool Echo . Having made 13 appearances for Liverpool across all competitions so far, he managed an assist on his bow in the Community Shield against Crystal Palace but had to wait until last week's 5-1 demolition of Eintracht Frankfurt to enhance his return. Wirtz found himself relegated to the substitutes' bench for recent Premier League encounters with Everton , Chelsea and Manchester United and has predictably faced criticism for his underwhelming performances since arriving at Anfield. However, Germany captain Kimmich has rushed to defend his fellow countryman, as he disclosed that he recently held a telephone conversation with the midfielder following his mixed start in England and offered his guidance to Wirtz. "I've contacted him," he told Welt Am Sonntag, as quoted by BILD . "But there's absolutely no reason for him to doubt himself. "Flo has the perfect blend of quality and mentality that will always lead you to the top as a player in the long run. "He has to remain patient and, of course, is also dependent on his team." Kimmich had previously expressed his regret that Bayern had not secured Wirtz's signature. "He will have his reasons for making this decision," he admitted back in June. "I hope it's the right path for him. "As a Bayern player, I would have naturally wanted him to come to us." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.