Liverpool shattered their transfer record in June by signing Germany international Florian Wirtz from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen for a guaranteed £100 million ($134 million), with an additional £16 million in potential add-ons.

The 22-year-old arrived at Anfield with a stellar reputation, having produced 57 goals and 65 assists in 197 appearances for Leverkusen. However, Wirtz has yet to fully replicate that form in England, struggling to make an immediate impact in his first seven Premier League games.

“If you’ve been signed for that kind of money, people tend to focus on goals and assists,” Liverpool manager Arne Slot told Sky Sports ahead of Sunday’s showdown with Manchester United at Anfield. “But honestly, he could already have six or seven assists if his teammates had finished the chances he created.

“For a 22-year-old moving to a new country — and especially to the Premier League — it’s completely normal to need some time to adjust.”

Slot also compared Wirtz’s early challenges to those faced by Kevin De Bruyne during his early career at Chelsea. The Belgian midfielder initially struggled in London but went on to become one of the Premier League’s all-time greats after joining Manchester City in 2015 for £54 million.

“Maybe I’m underestimating the best midfielder the Premier League has ever seen, Kevin De Bruyne,” Slot said. “He was also 21 or 22 when he went to Chelsea. So my message is simple — give Florian a bit of time. I certainly will, and he’s been unlucky so far.”

Liverpool, who have suffered three straight defeats in all competitions, currently trail Premier League leaders Arsenal by just one point.