Arne Slot response to Florian Wirtz comments must be clear as Liverpool debates rages

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A closer look at the situation surrounding Florian Wirtz, who sparkled against Real Madrid but then was suffocated against Man CityIt has been a turbulent ride for Liverpool’s marquee signing of the summer, Florian Wirtz, to say the least. From the first minute until the very last the feeling around the stadium was nothing but optimism for the return of form for the English champions - and Wirtz was central to that.However, Sunday’s defeat to a dominant Manchester City side, who now look like they are back in the hunt to reclaim the title again, made it seem like the £116m arrival from Bayer Leverkusen was nowhere to be seen.READ MORE: Liverpool told to be 'braver' with Florian Wirtz as Arne Slot task clearREAD MORE: Liverpool could unleash Alexander Isak with subtle change - but there's a problemThis was down to the clever and cunning plan set in place by City coach Pep Guardiola, who had seemed to be telekinetically controlling two to three of his players at a time to suffocate Wirtz’s left-wing position.

The Catalan, who has dominated Spanish, German and now English football, once again proved his x-ray vision and saw right through each tactic Liverpool had in store.Among exploiting other players such as Ibrahima Konate to be hounded on by his relentless City attack for the full match, Guardiola had halted Wirtz’s every move in the first half. During the 83 minutes he was on for, the Reds No.7 was unable to create a single chance in the game, apart from two blocked shots, as opposed to his form in the Champions League in midweek, when he created just as many chances as the whole Madrid side in the first half with five.The worry now, which is certainly amplified from outside voices, is that because he has failed to register a goal or an assist in any of the opening 11 games of the Premier League season, suggests that he may lose the starting place he had gained after the run of form he produced in the Champions League.After the City game on Sky Sports, co-commentator Gary Neville stamped Wirtz’s form down as “a problem” and that it was a real worry that he was not proving his worth.Neville’s blunt labelling made his feelings clear about the players, just a few months into his Liverpool career, stating that he will need to stand up to the fast and physical task of English football sooner or later.This was a polar opposite complaint of the head coach of the German national team, Julian Nagelsmann, who claimed that Wirtz “does create a few chances.

However, Nagelsmann jumping to his countryman’s defence with the claim that “Liverpool could also help him out” now suggests that going into yet another international break, he will prove the worth and clinical qualities that Wirtz has to offer is Slot’s mistake, a bold tee he has set up himself.Since Colombian star Luis Diaz left for the Bavarian giants Bayern Munich, Cody Gakpo has, so far, made the wide left of the attack his own. With Wirtz now slowly but surely beginning to showcase his abilities, Slot now has more of a headache to work not just on who to start but the tactics set in place.