'People forget': Arne Slot suggests one reason Florian Wirtz hasn't sparkled at Liverpool so far
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Florian Wirtz has struggled to hit the ground running at Liverpool, but there is still time for adjustments.
The Champions League game against Atletico Madrid was a return to those European nights the Reds are famous for, and it was the fifth time this season that they had scored in the final 10 minutes of a game to win it.
Virgil van Dijk’s header was the one to set their league phase off to a winning start with a dramatic 3-2 win over the Spanish side.
It was a night, especially in the first half, where the team seemed to shine and show their best side of form, with Alexander Isak making his Liverpool debut, much to the delight of supporters.
There was also a vastly improved Wirtz performance, which caught the eye of fans who have been waiting to see the £100 million maestro kick his career in red into gear.
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
He created the most chances in the Madrid game, and his link-up play with the squad, in particular Isak, was a real bright spark before he was subbed off in the second half.
On occasion, he was close to scoring or even assisting himself alongside his former Bayer Leverkusen teammate Jeremie Frimpong, which established both men’s qualities on the pitch.
For the Liverpool boss, Arne Slot, concerns about Wirtz’s slow start to his career on Merseyside are not as big a problem as some make it out to be.
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In his post-match press conference comments, Slot hailed the German international for his improved performance in the European game and enjoyed his interplay with the new Swedish striker.
READ MORE: Jeremie Frimpong defends Florian Wirtz after claims he’s ‘not clicking’ at Liverpool
The Dutchman took the opportunity to defend his newest midfield addition after criticism about him mounted following a less-than-impressive Burnley performance.
He said: “He was indeed a few times close to scoring a goal.
So, I can see with him as well that he’s getting fitter and fitter and adjusting more to us which is normal.
“You need a bit of time to adjust.
We all know how much quality he has, but sometimes people forget that he’s a 22-year-old who goes abroad for the first time.”
The 47-year-old also pointed out that the way the team plays is a very different style to what the No.
Combine that with going to a new club, new playing style, because Leverkusen played 343, or the way you want to say it, we play 433,” he explained.
“So we ask a bit more from him off the ball defensively maybe as well, but I can see him growing, growing, growing more and more, and I think that is what you can expect from a quality player, they always adjust to what he needs and he and the team will get better and better.”
It is a much different competition for players to perform in, but for this Liverpool side and specifically Wirtz, it plays to their strengths perfectly.
There is a lot of end-to-end football, more space for a player like the 22-year-old German to find space, and a different kind of pace, which he was used to playing in last season’s European competitions.
It has come at the perfect time for Wirtz, who has faced outside pressure from pundits and some fans, but it showed his quality, giving him a much-needed boost.
A likely start in the Merseyside derby would be good, but as ever, it is a tricky game for any player to shine in, and there will not be an expectation of a star performance from the midfielder because of how cagey the game always is.