Newcastle United vs. Liverpool FC live ticker: Wirtz challenged with Reds

Florian Wirtz's first few weeks at Liverpool FC have already been deeply impressive following his record-breaking transfer from Bayer Leverkusen to the English champions. In an interview with Kicker, the 22-year-old expressed his satisfaction with his start at Liverpool, who face Newcastle United on Monday in the second round of the Premier League.

So far, he's really enjoying it, Wirtz said, describing the feeling when the fans at home sing the club anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone" before kickoff: "I felt it with my whole body that it's something special when you're standing in the middle and the whole stadium is singing this song around you. It gives you something extra before the game," Wirtz explained. "It leaves no one cold."

It's more difficult to leave your familiar surroundings and move abroad and into a different league, Wirtz explained. He consciously chose the greater challenge in order to succeed and become a better player. The decision wasn't easy. "But I made it with 100 percent conviction, and I'm happy about it." There was no discussion with former Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp.

He is not putting any pressure on himself because of the transfer fee and is trying to do his best - no matter how much money he was brought in for, said the German "Footballer of the Year".

The adjustment to the athletic aspect will take a few more weeks. It's not a completely different kind of football in the Premier League, but it's more physically intensive and perhaps requires a bit more running. There's greater pressure to succeed at Liverpool. "But it's not pressure you can't handle; it actually gives you more energy," Wirtz said.

Despite a disappointing fourth-place finish at the Nations League finals, Wirtz and the German national team are still aiming for the World Cup title next year. "I'm someone who likes to think big," Wirtz said, emphasizing, with a view to the finals in the USA, Canada, and Mexico , "The World Cup title is and remains the goal." The goal of becoming the best player in the world is also "absolutely there."

National coach Julian Nagelsmann, with whom he also spoke about his move, will nominate the squad this Wednesday for the first World Cup qualifiers in Slovakia and in Cologne against Northern Ireland on September 4 and 7.