Arne Slot sent clear message as finger pointed over Florian Wirtz's struggles

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Florian Wirtz has had a slow start to life at Liverpool, with the £116million man failing to register a goal or assist for the Premier League champions since his debutLiverpool boss Arne Slot has been told by Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann that Florian Wirtz's struggles aren't 'his fault'. Wirtz started well with an assist on his debut in the Community Shield, but in the 12 games since for club and country, he's contributed to just one goal - a direct free-kick against Northern Ireland during the last international break.Wirtz wasn't able to provide a goal or assist in Germany's 4-0 victory over Luxembourg on Friday, but his performance was more reminiscent of his Leverkusen days.

"Even if he hasn't scored a goal, he's the player who creates the most chances in the Premier League," the German told Sport 1."It's not his fault if his team-mate doesn't create them, and the statistic isn't even a third of the truth. Not everything has always been handed to him - he'll work hard now, too."According to official Premier League statistics, though, Nagelsmann isn't correct.

But that didn't stop Anfield legend Jamie Carragher from calling for Wirtz to be dropped by Slot - which he was ahead of Saturday's loss to Chelsea, Liverpool's third defeat in a row."Right now, I don't think the balance of the team is right and the obvious one that stands out is Florian Wirtz," Carragher bemoaned on Sky Sports. "He's just not at the races at all."He's a young boy coming into a new league - he has got plenty of time to go as a Liverpool player but right now I think he needs to come out of the team, Liverpool go back to what they were last season and then go from there and build some confidence, build some defensive solidity."Because right now it is a mess.