Arne Slot selection questioned after Liverpool defeat as Florian Wirtz point made

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Arne Slot’s team selection has been questioned following Liverpool’s defeat to Crystal Palace - and, namely, his use of Florian Wirtz at Selhurst Park. Slot, as expected, had made 10 changes from the Carabao Cup victory over Southampton in midweek, although it was his decision to play Wirtz on the left wing as opposed to Cody Gakpo that caught many people’s attention.

The experiment only lasted one half, though, with Gakpo introduced at the break and Wirtz moved centrally, resulting in a marked improvement from the Reds, and Slot’s tactics being questioned. Florian Wirtz was much improved after being moved to a more central position in Liverpool's 2-1 defeat at Crystal Palace (Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) “This was against a Liverpool team who’d won five out of five, and people are saying they’re not quite at the level we would expect, and I would agree with that,” former Tottenham defender Michael Dawson told Sky Sports.

After all, Wirtz has played on the left wing before, and there were plenty of fans eager to see how he’d get on there when he arrived during the summer. It just didn’t work against Palace, and as much he wasn’t helped by the rest of his teammates struggling, it was noticeable that Wirtz looked a lot better after the break when he moved centrally and had Gakpo on the wing.