Florian Wirtz has faced a difficult start at Liverpool but two respected figures have urged calm as criticism grows. Sir Kenny Dalglish and Rudi Völler have both offered public backing after Jamie Carragher suggested the summer signing should be removed from the team.

The Germany international began the season as Liverpool’s No. 10 before losing his place for the Merseyside derby against Everton. He returned on the left wing for the match against Crystal Palace and was restored to a central role for Tuesday’s defeat to Galatasaray.

Carragher warned there is an obvious problem in finding the right balance. “He has got plenty of time to go as a Liverpool player, but right now I think he needs to come out of the team,” the retired star warned, “…[for] Liverpool go back to what they were last season and then go from there and build some confidence, build some defensive solidity. Right now. it is a mess.”

Dalglish, asked about Wirtz, urged the player not to overthink the situation and said he sees the qualities that will succeed in time. “The first thing he needs to do is what he’s doing at the moment,” Dalglish said. “He’s great at taking the ball into the feet, he’ll open himself up and the pass has beat you but he’s still got control of it. Or he’ll take it the other way back past you to go that way and you’re going this way. He can see what’s in front of him, and once he gets it…”

Dalglish pointed to the potential partnership with Alexander Isak, noting conversations and training work as the foundation for on-field understanding. “I saw Isak the other day, the second half when he came on [against Everton] I think, and he’s talking to one of the boys about his movement, what he would do. And [Wirtz] is listening to him and once they get on the same wavelength… “By the way, that wee fella [Wirtz], he could open a can of soup [with his foot].” He added: “It could happen right away [for Wirtz and Isak]. For Rushy, it was training for us,” the Scot replied. “We did it in training, so that’s where you learn it first, isn’t it?”

The arrival of other summer signings has influenced the debate. Hugo Ekitiké has adapted more smoothly, and his avoidable red card against Southampton followed over-jubilant celebrations after scoring a late winner. That comparison has fed social media pressure on Wirtz.

Völler, who knows Wirtz well, urged the player to ignore outside noise. “Florian shouldn’t let himself get carried away [with what people say]. I have no concerns about that… he’ll show the English what he’s made of,” Völler told BILD.

Mohammed Kudus has built a career on patience and exacting standards. The 25-year-old arrived at Tottenham Hotspur this summer as a £55 million recruit after two years at West Ham United, but his progression began long before England. Raised in Nima, north of Accra, he found playing space on sand and credits that environment with sharpening his control. “I think on the grass pitch, receiving a ball, you automatically expect how the ball should come and bounce,” he says. “But on a sand pitch it can move anywhere. So you have to react quicker to controlling the ball … looking at it in a positive way, I think it helps in a way, if you can find your way through the sand with the bumpy ball.”

His mother, Mariam, supported the family as a street vendor and enforced strict rules at home. She “played both roles of being a mum and a dad at the same time” and left no doubt that schoolwork came first: “if you don’t pass your school exams or your test, then you’re not going to play football.” Right to Dream recruited him at 12 and Mas-Ud Didi Dramani recalled a determined teenager training through a broken thumb. FC Nordsjælland signed him on his 18th birthday and he established himself by the end of his debut campaign, then followed that with 11 goals from 22 league starts and a first senior Ghana call-up in November 2019, where he scored. “When you play for a country,” he says, “that stays with you forever.”

Kudus moved to Ajax in 2020. Less than 10 minutes into his Champions League debut against Liverpool he tore his meniscus, a setback that began a run of injuries that cost him 50 games across two seasons. “All those setbacks and injuries, you get to learn about your body, study yourself, so I put my effort into that,” he recalls. He hired a personal trainer, focused on recovery and returned to post a career-best 18 goals in 2022–23, including a Champions League equaliser at Anfield in September. Asked why he crossed the London divide this summer, he was direct and succinct: “My gut feeling.”

The Premier League has published shortlists for the September Player and Manager of the Month awards, highlighting a mix of established stars and emerging contributors.

Erling Haaland was the standout player in September, finishing the month with a barnstorming total of five goals. He scored in high-profile victories against Arsenal and Manchester United and also supplied an assist.

Daichi Kamada has been a consistent presence for Crystal Palace. Signed as an attacking midfielder, the 29-year-old has been deployed deeper in a 3-4-2-1 system and combined creativity with robust tackling in that role.

Yankuba Minteh provided three goal contributions for Brighton & Hove Albion, scoring in each of the club’s three matches in September. His display in the 3–1 comeback win over Chelsea drew particular praise.

Sunderland were one of the surprise packages of the month, a newly promoted side that finished September on a three-game unbeaten run. The Black Cats were led by goalkeeper Robin Roefs, who kept two clean sheets, and midfield signing Granit Xhaka, who set up each of Sunderland’s goals.

Arsenal midfielder Martín Zubimendi enjoyed an expanded attacking remit after Martin Ødegaard’s injury and supplied notable moments, including a volleyed goal against Nottingham Forest.

The Manager of the Month shortlist reflected team form and tactical approaches. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta saw his side beat Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United and draw with Man City, a sequence “which, according to the boss himself, left people all over the football world in awe .” Oliver Glasner retained Crystal Palace’s unbeaten record and orchestrated the tactical plan that delivered Liverpool’s first defeat of the campaign. Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City produced nine goals across three games. Régis Le Bris remained on the list following Sunderland’s run that left them fifth at the end of the month.

Recent winners listed in the draft include Jack Grealish (Everton, August) and Arne Slot (Liverpool, September).