Florian Wirtz question grows after Arne Slot decision as Liverpool verdict yet to be reached

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Liverpool Echo IconSportFootballLiverpool FCIan Doyle with the big talking points after Liverpool won 2-0 at home to Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday eveningThe clocks may have gone back last week. But Saturday evening saw Arne Slot make a clear decision to turn to the past to help Liverpool’s present.Where possible, the Reds boss utilised the tried and trusted of last season’s Premier League title triumph in an attempt to address his team’s slide in form.And that was no more apparent than in midfield where a fit-again Ryan Gravenberch was partnered by Alexis Mac Allister as the double pivot while Dominik Szoboszlai was restored to the number 10 role in which he excelled last term.The difference was instant, the understanding between the trio clear and aided by Mac Allister, after difficulties with fitness and sharpness in recent months, delivering a much-improved display.It was his pass that invited Gravenberch to score the deflected second shortly before the hour, while Szoboszlai was the game’s stellar performer with a trademark energetic display that gave Liverpool more defensive structure further up the pitch.Indeed, Florian Wirtz, the £116million attacking midfielder summer arrival, was restricted to the last 15 or so minutes playing as a false nine.The need for rotation means there’s every chance the Germany international will line up against Real Madrid in the Champions League next week.But this performance served to underline the quandary with which Slot continues to grapple.

At one end, Giorgi Mamardashvili, who has been given something of a baptism of fire since replacing the hamstrung Alisson Becker between the sticks for Liverpool.And in opposition was Emiliano Martinez, the World Cup-winning shot-stopper who helped Aston Villa keep Manchester City and Erling Haaland at bay last weekend.Mamardashvili was the winner here in every respect, his solid first-half showing – in particular a flying save to turn Matty Cash’s unexpected effort on to the woodwork – thwarting Villa’s early threat before Martinez’s blunder paved the way for Liverpool’s opener.It helped Mamardashvili that he was afforded the kind of protection he has sorely missed in recent weeks, the Reds a far more cohesive attacking unit aided by solid showings from Virgil van Dijk and the recalled Andy Robertson – surely now first-choice at left-back ahead of Milos Kerkez – and an encouraging all-action outing from Conor Bradley at right-back.With the midfield and attack doing their bit, this was a first clean sheet in 11 for Liverpool and only a second in 12 at Anfield in all competitions.Slot gamble deliversTalk about a tale of two potential extremes. Liverpool went into this game hoping to avoid suffering a fifth successive league defeat for the first time since September 1953 during a season in which they were last relegated from the top flight.Instead, an unusually routine victory saw Slot match Kenny Dalglish’s record of reaching 100 league points in the fewest amount of games, moving on to 102 from 48 matches.For the Reds boss, it was early justification of his heavily-debated decision to omit so many senior players for the dismal League Cup exit at home to Crystal Palace in midweek.The full outcome, of course, won’t be determined until Liverpool negotiate Tuesday’s glamour Champions League visit of Real Madrid and the Premier League trip to title contenders Manchester City the following Sunday.That will provide the true test of both the current depth of his squad and whether there is genuine reason to believe a corner has now been turned.Ian DoyleIan Doyle has covered Liverpool for more than 20 years, following them across Europe in multiple Champions League and Europa League finals and as far afield as Thailand, Singapore, the United States, Hong Kong and Qatar, and has reported on the Reds winning every major honour.

He previously also covered Everton for 18 years and followed England, reporting on the European Championships and World Cup final. Once had to tell Jude Law he does not drive a Mini.