Time for Isak & Wirtz to prove they are the future for Liverpool
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As Mohamed Salah waved goodbye to the Anfield crowd on Saturday after getting injured, the manner of his reaction and that of all those in the ground suggested that deep down, both player and supporters knew it could be the final time.Thankfully for Liverpool supporters, the side's manager Arne Slot confirmed on Friday the Egyptian is expected return to action before the end of the season after sustaining a minor muscle injury.For now, what is certain is Liverpool will head to Old Trafford this weekend without the man that has a formidable record against Manchester United.With 13 goals in 16 games against United, no player has scored more than Salah in the Premier League era against them. German Wirtz is yet to score or provide an assist against any of the Premier League teams currently occupying the European places but when that was put to Slot on Friday, he insisted that's a "coincidence" and said he is "100% sure" Wirtz will start delivering in the bigger games.Meanwhile, Isak managed just 18 touches against Palace but that was still more than the nine he got against Everton and the five against PSG in the other games he's started since returning from injury.
The goal he scored - the Swede's first in the Premier League for Liverpool at Anfield - will only do the 26-year-old's confidence a world of good."In terms of what I've seen, everyone knows and sees and experiences as team-mates how outstanding he is. It is about getting games, confidence but obviously scoring goals as a striker – that's the main trigger for him," said Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk."The more he touches the ball, the bigger chance there is that we score goals," Slot added on Friday.
"Having Alex more and more available would help with converting created chances into goals, which is something we haven't done very well this season."For Wirtz, the emphasis on connecting more with Isak is clear, especially with Hugo Ekitike sidelined."It's important that we feed him with balls because if he's just there on top alone then it's hard for him to score goals," Wirtz said.His own tally of seven goals and 10 assists this season is certainly no room for major concern but Wirtz, who turns 23 on Sunday, would be the first to admit that he must do better. Almost every player in the world is at his best when he is 25, 26 but he is already an elite player and he can only become better and that is the beauty of the signings we did last summer, that all of them are of a certain age where we can only expect them to get better,"There will certainly be more incomings in the summer with Liverpool linked with RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande, who can play on both wings, but they will face competition from a host of other European clubs for the 19-year-old.The arrival of another quality winger should help Isak and Wirtz next season but in the here and now lies a wonderful opportunity for the pair to start living up to the expectation they arrived with.