Arne Slot has revealed a change of role for Florian Wirtz after coming into the Liverpool lineup for Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid.
Wirtz is the sole change as Liverpool host Real Madrid in their fourth game of the Champions League‘s league phase on Tuesday night.
The German replaces Cody Gakpo as part of an attacking line that also features Dominik Szoboszlai, Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike.
There could have been a mystery over his role heading into kickoff, but speaking to Amazon Prime Sport pre-match, Slot confirmed it was a straight swap on the left wing.
“He’s the left winger tonight, yeah,” he explained.
FRANKFURT, GERMANY - Wednesday, October 22, 2025: Liverpool team-mates Dominik Szoboszlai (L) and Florian Wirtz after the UEFA Champions League match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Liverpool FC at the Waldstadion. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Asked why he felt a Champions League clash with Real Madrid was the right time for Wirtz, Slot laughed: “I feel every time is right for Florian Wirtz, but I have more than 11 players to choose from.
“So tonight, as many times before, I decided to play him.
“If I play him, you ask about him; if I don’t play him, you ask about him. But he plays tonight, yeah.”
There may be more to Wirtz’s role than a direct replacement for Gakpo on the left, particularly as he has less of a tendency to cut inside onto his right and shoot.
Realistically his positioning will be more fluid and allow him to interchange with both Ekitike and Szoboszlai, with it possible that Liverpool’s setup resembles more of a two striker system at times.
Wirtz has started every game in the Champions League so far this season and last time out against Frankfurt he registered his first assists since the Community Shield.
That night in Germany he did so from the right-hand side in a new-look 4-4-2, but against Real it appears he will be in a more natural position.
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Live audio commentary of Liverpool vs. Real Madrid and a full match replay and highlights will also be available on All Red Video here.
This Is Anfield will also be providing live text commentary throughout on our website and full match reaction and analysis on the This Is Anfield app for iPhone and Android later.
Download free here.
How to Watch Liverpool vs. Real Madrid Worldwide
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This Is Anfield will also be providing live text commentary throughout on our website and full match reaction and analysis on the This Is Anfield app for iPhone and Android later.
Download free here.
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