The 23-year-old Germany attacking midfielder joined Liverpool last summer after playing a central role in Leverkusen's Bundesliga title-winning campaign the previous season. His transition to the Premier League proved harder than anticipated. He did not score his first league goal until late December and spent the first half of the season without a meaningful run of form, drawing heavy criticism from pundits and the English press.
Wirtz addressed the scrutiny directly in an interview with The Athletic.
"I have never experienced something like this before. I simply tried to work hard and improve to have more influence on games," he said. "When I look back, it is not a season that leaves me only sad. I was able to learn a lot and adapt to a new country and a new league."
He finished the campaign with seven goals and ten assists in 48 appearances across all competitions — a modest return by the standards set at Leverkusen, where he averaged close to 30 goal contributions per season.
On the criticism he received: "I try to give my best and I don't measure myself by numbers. I had to take a lot of criticism this season, especially at the beginning. But it didn't impress me much. I used the time to learn how to deal with things like that."
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has been publicly supportive, saying in May: "His improvement — and he was already an elite player — has been obvious to me. He is 23. Every player is at their best at 25 or 26. He can only get better."
Liverpool finished fifth in the Premier League this season, securing a Champions League place on the final day. Wirtz is in the Germany squad for the World Cup.