This summer Liverpool signed Bayer Leverkusen star Wirtz with a record transfer fee of 125 million euros, but so far the player's performance has not met expectations. Red Army veteran Heskey said that Wirtz still needs time to adapt.

Heskey said: "First of all, I think Gakpo needs to find his position, especially on the left wing. He needs to show more strength. I hope Gakpo can fill the vacancy left by Dias, but I don't think Liverpool will regret selling Dias. After all, business is business.

"No matter how much money the team spends on a player, the player will need some time to adapt to the new environment, and for some of them this process may be longer. Luis Suarez performed well as soon as he joined, but not all players can do this. Wirtz needs an adaptation period now, especially considering his transfer fee, which will also bring a certain amount of psychological pressure to him.

"I also don't think Wirtz's start will have dampened his confidence. Sometimes you have to give players a break from the spotlight. We have to remember that the Premier League is one of the toughest and most brutal leagues in the world. Some players need to be taken off temporarily, which is also good for themselves. If you ask the players, they will say 'no, let me continue to play', but that may be counterproductive.

"So sometimes you need to give players a break and then slowly let them return to the game. We all know the intensity that Wirtz will have to deal with at Liverpool and I doubt he has ever experienced anything like it before. Therefore, he must adapt to this rhythm. At the same time, defensively, some of the Premier League's back lines are the strongest in the world, so we need to give them some time.

"As for the No. 9 position, I prefer to start Isaac because I have seen his outstanding performance. Of course, Ekitic also played very well, and he has great potential. I would like to see if I can try a two-forward play, or let one of them roam on the left, while allowing Kolquez to participate more in assists."

Before the international match day, Liverpool suffered three consecutive losses in all competitions, and the team's defense had problems. In this regard, Heskey said: "Of course the coach hopes to re-strengthen the defense. Konate and Van Dijk performed solidly last season, but now they look a little tired.

"At the full-back position, Arnold is no longer there, and Frimpong and Kolquez are still adapting. As a result, Slaughter is trying to regain the chemistry that the defensive line had last season. The personnel may not be exactly the same, but the solidity is what the defense must have. "