Florian Wirtz arrived at Anfield with fanfare over the summer - but before the clocks even go back, Wirtz is struggling to make
15:38, 19 Oct 2025Updated 15:51, 19 Oct 2025
Liverpool manager Arne Slot (left) and Florian Wirtz (right)
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Arne Slot has dropped Florian Wirtz(Image: PA)
Arne Slot has made a huge decision on Florian Wirtz before Liverpool's crunch clash with Manchester United.
The Reds had been flying at the top of the league - but a stumble in form has left them winless in three. Liverpool need all three points to get their season back and track, and Slot hasn't trusted Wirtz in his starting side.
The Reds shattered the British transfer record to bring the German to Anfield to from Bayer Leverkusen. However, he's struggled to make the same waves he did in the Bundesliga on these shores so far this season.
And there's no room for Wirtz in Slot's starting side - who has instead opted for a starting midfield of Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch.
Wirtz's former Leverkusen team-mate Jeremie Frimpong was also dropped as Conor Bradley come into defence.
Florian Wirtz of Liverpool
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Florian Wirtz was dropped for the clash(Image: Liverpool FC, Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
"How are we supposed to get the best out of Wirtz if we're forever starting him on the bench or changing the system," one fan moaned.
"Biggest game in the country, and £116m Wirtz can't start," a second joked. While a third posted: "Honestly, I'm really scared for Florian Wirtz with the way he's been benched by Slot recently..."
And another added: "I can’t think of of a single justifiable reason for Wirtz to be benched today..."
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Speaking about Wirtz's situation ahead of the clash, Slot said: "If you've been brought in for so much money, people look mainly at goals and assists, but I can tell you he could be on six or seven assists already.
"If you look at the passes he's played to his team-mates which unfortunately didn't lead to goals, one of the greatest examples is the Chelsea game where after one minute [since coming on] he had this great flick to Mo Salah.
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"For Mo, this is 99 times out of 100 a goal. I have to say 98 out of 100 because the last time he got a ball like this was against Atletico Madrid from Florian Wirtz, but Mo hit the post.
"He's been a bit unlucky with the finishing when he's given his team-mates chances but, in general for a 22-year-old, it's quite normal that you have to adjust to going to another country let alone going to the Premier League."