Arne Slot's bold prediction on Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz before Man Utd clash

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Arne Slot is '100% sure' Florian Wirtz will deliver against top teams and believes having Alexander Isak fully fit will transform Liverpool's season as the Reds prepare to face Manchester UnitedArne Slot has no doubt Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz will prove their worth(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA, Getty Images)Arne Slot is confident that Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak are now ready to step up and prove their worth as big-money signings for Liverpool.Wirtz became the club's most expensive player upon his arrival from Bayer Leverkusen in a $156 million (£116M) deal last summer, before being eclipsed by Isak's British record $169 million (£125M) move from Newcastle United. Although Wirtz initially struggled to adapt to English football, he has contributed seven goals and 10 assists this season, though none have come against sides currently occupying a European qualification spot.The Reds, however, still have fixtures against Chelsea and Aston Villa to come following Sunday's trip to fierce North West rivals Manchester United.READ MORE: Giovanni Leoni's latest update leaves Liverpool fans excited as physical change clearREAD MORE: Wayne Rooney reopens Liverpool wounds with fresh Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk digWhen asked whether he expects Wirtz to improve his record against top-tier opposition, Slot responded: "I don't only hope that, I am 100% sure he will."For me it is a coincidence, we have to play three more who are in those positions so that gives him three more chances to do this.""The development Florian has made throughout his Liverpool career, which has only been 10 months, is so clear and obvious: 93rd minute against Crystal Palace making a duel on the sideline, winning a throw-in and then making a sprint from 40 yards and hitting the ball in the top corner, that is something I am not completely convinced he could do the same eight months ago."Slot added: "His improvement — and he was already an elite player — has been, for me, clear and obvious and that improvement will only continue as he is only 22 so that makes complete sense."Isak opened the scoring in Liverpool's 3-1 win over Crystal Palace"Almost every player in the world is at his best when he is 25, 26 but he is already an elite player now and he can only become better and that is the beauty of the signings he did last summer, that all of them are of a certain age where we can only expect them to get better – as long as they don't get injured."Liverpool has registered the most shots in the Premier League this season, yet has netted 23 goals fewer than at the same point last campaign when they clinched the title.Isak has featured in each of the last three fixtures and could line up alongside Wirtz for four consecutive matches for the first time.

Slot believes the Swede's improvised opener against Crystal Palace last weekend illustrated precisely what his side has lacked for much of the season."Having Alex more and more available, having him available at his top level, would increase that even more," said the Reds boss when asked about improving efficiency in front of goal. "In general having players available would help becoming consistent; at the moment not playing three times in seven days helps in our consistency."Wirtz sealed the win over Palace with a goal in extra time(Image: Getty Images)"But chance creation, converting into goals that is something we haven't done very well throughout this whole season but one of the players we always thought could score goals for us was hardly available."Liverpool has had the most shots in the Premier League this season, but has scored 23 goals fewer than at this stage last campaign, having claimed the title.

Isak has started the last three games and could play four in a row alongside Wirtz for the first time. And Slot believes the Swede's improvised opener at home to Crystal Palace last weekend demonstrated what his team has missed for large parts of the campaign."Last week you could see it was a chance but it wasn't the biggest chance we've had this season and he finished that one off really well by scoring the 1-0 and scoring a goal which is vital in football as it sets you in the right direction or if you don't score it and concede a set-piece at the other end — which happened so many times in the first half of the season — that brings the game in a different direction."Slot added: "Happy to have Alex back, unfortunately Mo was of course another great goalscorer for so many years and is not available on Sunday but Alex is.""I think some other players that haven't scored the amount of goals that I think they are able to or they have shown in the past they are able to and that will go back to normal in a certain moment and the sooner the better."