Arne Slot to blame for Florian Wirtz’s disastrous Liverpool start – ‘has to take some accountability’

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Fast forward to November, and his start to life at Liverpool could have hardly gone any worse, after struggling to meet the Premier League’s physical demands. Whilst Wirtz impressed against Real Madrid in the Champions League, the 22-year-old is yet to score or assist in England’s top-flight, and according to Joleon Lescott, Slot is largely to blame for his struggles.Credit: ImagoJoleon Lescott blames Arne Slot for Florian Wirtz’s strugglesWhen the German international completed his nine-figure switch to Merseyside, hardly anyone could have predicted him failing to contribute to any goals by November in the Premier League.

Speaking to TNT Sports after Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat to Man City, Lescott felt the Dutchman should have slowly drip-fed Wirtz game time – just like Mikel Arteta has done with Eberechi Eze – instead of throwing him in at the deep end. MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES “I’d give [Mikel] Arteta more credit for the way he’s handled [Eberechi] Eze,” the former Everton defender said.

But Mikel was patient, because he did well at Crystal Palace, but then when you go to Arsenal, you have to perform.“It’s a similar situation to Florian Wirtz coming from Bayer Leverkusen, where he now has to perform, but Slot didn’t give him a grace period of bedding him in, letting him find his feet.“It’s on Slot the way he’s managed it, not the fact he’s brought him in. Obviously, the tragedy that happened with [Diogo] Jota, you need replacements.“But, the way it’s been handled, he definitely has to take some accountability.”Wirtz can shine during Liverpool’s favourable fixture runA player of Wirtz’s quality is going to come good eventually, and while he should have been used more sparingly since joining, he can truly hit the heights after the international break.