Slot Rejects Wenger Claim That Wirtz At No 10 Has ‘destroyed Liverpool’s Midfield’

Arne Slot has rejected Arsène Wenger’s mentation that playing Florian Wirtz arsenic a No 10 has “destroyed Liverpool’s midfield” and insisted nan £116m signing will beryllium a typical talent wherever he operates for nan Premier League champions.

Wirtz impressed erstwhile playing disconnected nan near successful nan Champions League conclusion of Real Madrid connected Tuesday, having antecedently struggled to make an effect successful a cardinal attacking role. The Germany international’s difficult commencement successful nan Premier League – wherever he is yet to people aliases assistance earlier Sunday’s sojourn to Manchester City – prompted a withering appraisal by Wenger earlier nan sojourn of Real.

Wenger claimed connected beIN Sports: “When Wirtz had nan prime betwixt going to Bayern Munich aliases Liverpool, he said to Liverpool: ‘I travel to you if I play No 10. I do not want to play wide.’ Liverpool, to get him, they opportunity OK. They started him and they destroyed their midfield, which was [Ryan] Gravenberch, [Alexis] Mac Allister, [Dominik] Szoboszlai. To play Wirtz, they took Szoboszlai out. What person they done? They person gone backmost to their midfield of past year.”

Wenger’s past constituent is correct, pinch past season’s title-winning midfield restored for victories complete Aston Villa and nan existent leaders of La Liga. Liverpool’s performances were markedly improved and they kept a cleanable expanse successful some games, aft failing to support 1 successful nan erstwhile 10 matches. Slot, however, believes a amended knowing betwixt teammates is cardinal to nan wide improvement and not simply nan position that Wirtz plays.

“Everyone has a correct to his ain opinion,” said nan Liverpool caput coach connected Wenger. “We person 5 aliases six very bully midfielders who tin each play together but they request to play much together to get nan champion retired of each azygous player. Florian needs clip to accommodate to his teammates and teammates request clip to accommodate to him. Now he played disconnected nan near but I tin show you, if it is not now it is tomorrow, he will person awesome performances arsenic a midfielder for Liverpool arsenic well.”

City were keen connected signing Wirtz astatine nan commencement of nan summertime transportation model but declare to person been put disconnected by nan financial package progressive to bring him from Bayer Leverkusen. Wirtz’s camp, meanwhile, suggested he cooled connected City owing to doubts complete Pep Guardiola’s semipermanent early astatine nan club. Slot, who hopes to person Alexander Isak disposable aft almost 3 weeks retired pinch a groin problem, insists Wirtz tin go a ascendant fig successful nan Premier League, arsenic a No 10 aliases an inverted winger.

Alexander Isak has returned to Liverpool training aft a groin niggle. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA

“He decidedly has nan talent for it, but it’s not only astir 1 player,” Slot added. “It’s besides astir nan squad you are playing in. What I tin opportunity astir Florian is that since Xabi Alonso came successful [at Leverkusen] he was chiefly utilized successful a 3-4-3 strategy arsenic an inverted winger, wherever earlier that he chiefly played arsenic a 10. In nan nationalist squad he plays arsenic an inverted winger arsenic well.

“For maine nan only situation I person is making judge he gets successful those positions, arsenic an inverted winger aliases arsenic a 10, successful and astir nan 18-yard container wherever his teammates request to find him pinch nan correct timing, because past he will ever nutrient typical things. He does this for nan nationalist team, he did it for Leverkusen and he’s already done that for america arsenic well.”

Slot admits he has changed nan Liverpool squad much than he would person wished this play and, unusually for him, became agitated erstwhile explaining really injuries to Mac Allister, Conor Bradley, Jeremie Frimpong and Isak gave him nary alternative.

“There person been evident reasons why we’ve had to alteration much than I would like,” he said. “Mac Allister arsenic an illustration – if you miss retired connected pre-season past you’re not fresh to play 3 games successful 7 days. If you do, you will get injuries.

“I tin show aggregate examples to you – Alex [Isak] is one, by nan way. It’s truthful evident for maine and I’m a spot like, you tin possibly consciousness it: ‘Jesus, why don’t you spot these things? Why are you talking astir maine changing?’ erstwhile it’s truthful evident why.

“I’m known arsenic being a head who prefers not to change, but I couldn’t do thing different to what I did. Then, of course, we brought caller players successful and they person to adapt. You cognize what I want to opportunity now? I want to talk astir nan past crippled erstwhile I saw a dive which 100% should person been a 2nd yellowish [for Vinícius Júnior]. I ne'er perceive astir really galore referee decisions person gone against america successful nan past six aliases 7 weeks.”