Ilkay Gundogan hugs Florian Wirtz during the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Germany and Hungary at Stuttgart Arena on June 19, 2024 in Stuttgart(Image: Marvin Ibo Guengoer - GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)

Former Manchester City star Ilkay Gunodgan has slammed critics of Florian Wirtz at Liverpool, saying negative analysis has been "completely exaggerated". And the Galatasaray midfielder has called for his former Germany colleague to block out the noise and show the form that made him the current Bundesliga and Germany player of the year.

Wirtz has yet to create an assist or score a goal for his new club since the 2-2 Community Shield draw with Crystal Palace over two months ago, when he played in Hugo Ekitike for the opening goal at Wembley.

Liverpool paid £116m to Bayer Leverkusen in June to land the attacking midfielder and three successive defeats before the international break has opened up a discussion about the 22-year-old Wirtz's opening weeks on Merseyside.