Wayne Rooney makes Florian Wirtz claim after Liverpool star dropped

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Former Everton striker Wayne Rooney reckons Liverpool manager Arne Slot has shown David Moyes the ultimate mark of respect by benching Florian Wirtz for the Merseyside derby.

The German midfielder, who has featured in every match for the Reds this campaign, found himself among the substitutes for the Premier League encounter at Anfield alongside fellow summer acquisition Alexander Isak.

The Swedish forward made his bow for the club during the thrilling Champions League victory against Atletico Madrid, with Wirtz also getting the nod in that game.

The Reds headed into the Merseyside derby sitting pretty at the summit of the table, having secured maximum points from their opening four Premier League outings, while Everton had also enjoyed an encouraging beginning to the campaign with seven points from an identical number of matches.

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"Everton have to be stubborn, hard to beat and with those attacking players go on and try and nick something.

"I think Arne Slot has showed a lot of respect to Everton with his lineup, leaving Wirtz out and having Szoboszlai almost in the ten and helping out in the midfield.

Discussing his decision to bench Isak, Slot explained to TNT Sports: "Normally when you don't play a player I don't think there is any player that says, 'OK I understand your decision.' OK, maybe they understand it but they may have made a different one themselves.

"I wouldn't be surprised if you ask him today that he would say it's the best choice for him not to start, but of course it is about match fitness

This is one of the most intense games that we have to play, so we try to manage it during Burnley and Atletico.

"For today, I think Dominik Szoboszlai, who played both of those games as well, is more used to the intensity of the Premier League and this programme than Florian, who is coming from Germany

I think he will feature, but not from the start."

Liverpool ended up winning Saturday's game 2-1 to move five points clear at the top of the Premier League table