Crazy numbers! Mats Hummels predicts a mega season for Florian Wirtz at Liverpool FC

The 2014 world champion is certain: Wirtz will make his breakthrough in England this season.

Hummels posted on X on Sunday afternoon, around half an hour before Liverpool's first game of the season away to Newcastle United. "We'll see more than 25 G/As from Wirtz in the league this season. I'd even say more than 30, in the league alone."

It's a bold call from the former world-class centre-back, so the numbers are worth a closer look.

In the past campaign, the first after his €125 million move from Bayer Leverkusen, Wirtz managed five goals and four assists in the Premier League for Liverpool from 33 of a possible 38 appearances.

Flo Wirtz records 23 goal involvements in Bayer's title-winning season

Previously, the 23-year-old had already put together three outstanding years in the Bundesliga: in 2021/22 he managed seven goals and 10 assists in just 24 games, in 23/24 he had 23 goal involvements (11 G/12 A) in 33 games in the title-winning season, and a year later 23 again (10 G/13 A) in 31 appearances.

Between those seasons comes a gap in his record because he spent many months out with a cruciate ligament tear and missed large parts of the 2022/23 campaign.

That means more than 25, or even more than 30, goal involvements would be a new personal best for Wirtz, even with the Premier League having two more teams than the Bundesliga and therefore more matches.

Wirtz stays quiet at the start of the season - Reds rescue a point

First, though, the Germany international has to find his rhythm. On the opening matchday of the new season on Sunday, Wirtz was on the pitch for a little over an hour at St James' and struggled along with the rest of the Reds against hosts who battled hard and were deliberately physical.

He did produce one dangerous shot, but Newcastle goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek made a superb save. Liverpool then snatched an equaliser in stoppage time from a penalty with a great deal of luck. By then, however, Wirtz had long since left the pitch.

A German player has hit 30 goal involvements in an English top-flight season before. Jürgen Klinsmann recorded 20 goals and 11 assists for Tottenham Hotspur in the 1994/95 season. Wirtz still has a long way to go. Let's see how well Hummels' take ages.

Klinsmann and co.: the top-scoring Germans in the Premier League