Liverpool manager Arne Slot has addressed the recent struggles of summer signing Florian Wirtz, while also explaining his reasoning behind occasionally leaving a Liverpool star out of the starting lineup. Wirtz, the 22-year-old German international, arrived at Anfield with high expectations after a reported £109.6 million (€125m) move from Bayer Leverkusen. The hefty price tag, which could rise to £116 million, briefly set a British transfer record before being surpassed by Alexander Isak's move.
Despite the initial hype, Wirtz has yet to score a competitive goal for Liverpool, though he has provided three assists in all competitions. Two of those assists came in a Champions League match against Eintracht Frankfurt. He has started some key matches on the bench, including the recent Premier League victory over Aston Villa.
Slot has defended Wirtz amidst criticism, attributing his slow start to the intensity of the Premier League and the need for adaptation. "For a player that comes from a different league, which is a very good league by the way, I think 9 out of 10 people would agree that the Premier League is a bit more intense," Slot stated. He also noted the frequency of matches, with teams often playing three games in seven days, further complicating the adjustment.
Despite Wirtz's lack of goals, Slot insists the young midfielder has been impactful. "He has had an impact in many games but has been unlucky with the end product, either by himself or by his teammates,” Slot said. The manager highlighted Wirtz's creative abilities, stating, "For me, he's brought exactly what we expected. A player who can create a lot for the team". Nagelsmann, the Germany manager, also defended Wirtz, saying that even though "he hasn't scored a goal, he's the player who creates the most chances in the Premier League".
Slot drew parallels with Ryan Gravenberch's initial struggles to adjust to the Premier League's intensity, suggesting that Wirtz may also need time to fully adapt. Gravenberch, who has become an important player for Liverpool, also needed time to adjust to the intensity. Gravenberch's recent performance against Aston Villa, where he scored a goal in Liverpool's 2-0 victory, demonstrated his growing importance to the team.
When asked about specific players, Slot appears to have confirmed that Conor Bradley will face Real Madrid. The match against Real Madrid will be a stern test, especially given Liverpool's historical struggles against the Spanish giants, having won only one of their last nine encounters. While it remains unclear whether Wirtz will feature in the starting lineup against Real Madrid, Slot's recent comments suggest that he remains a key part of Liverpool's plans. Slot seems to be trying to integrate Wirtz into the team slowly, while also giving other players opportunities to shine.
