Arne Slot is still trying to figure out how to get Liverpool back to their best after what has been a poor season so far.
The Premier League champions drew 0-0 with Leeds United early this week, keeping them 12 points adrift of first-place Arsenal.
Fans have discussed Slot leaving Liverpool in the aftermath of that performance, which saw their side create little of note.
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What is your message to Arne Slot ahead of Liverpool’s visit to Fulham? 🗣️
What does he need to change after the Leeds draw?
Arne Slot pictured ahead of Liverpool's UEFA Champions League match against Inter Milan at San Siro
Credit: Nicolò Campo/LightRocket/Getty Images
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Curtis Jones wasn’t great against Leeds, while supporters also decided to hit out at Florian Wirtz for his showing.
Wirtz has a hamstring problem that forced him to miss training sessions in the build-up to the midweek action, which may go some way to explaining why he wasn’t at his best.
Michael Owen says Florian Wirtz isn’t a wide player
But Michael Owen has a different view of the German, suggesting people who say he’s now in form are wrong and that Slot is using him in the wrong position, as he is actually a 10, not a winger.
Speaking live on Premier League Productions on Thursday evening, the ex-striker said: “Wirtz people keep telling me, ‘Oh, he’s getting better. Oh, he’s in top form now.’ He’s not. He really isn’t.
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“He’s showing glimmers. He’s showing glimmers of flashes of brilliance, which you would expect, but I mean, he’s not a left-sided player for starters.
“And for those people that come back and say, ‘Oh, he played on the left in Germany before,’ he didn’t.
“He played as a number 10. Two number 10s a little bit like Manchester United play with Cunha and Mbeumo, your position, let’s say he played inside the pitch as a number 10, he didn’t get chalk on his boots, he’s not strong enough and not quick enough to be a wide player.
“He needs to play inside. Gakpo needs to play on the left and they need to find, if they’re going to play Wirtz, he needs to play inside as a sort of a number 10 type of player.”
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Austria's Ifeanyi Ndukwe celebrates after scoring during the FIFA U17 World Cup match against England (Credit: Getty Images/Jurij Kodrun - FIFA).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Jurij Kodrun/FIFA
DOB: 03/03/2008
Position: Centre-Back
Favoured foot: Right/both
Height: 1.98m
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Cody Gakpo return could hinder Liverpool talent
If Wirtz is moved into a more central role, Owen is right that Gakpo would likely start on the left again.
However, we have already seen this season that Milos Kerkez is better with Wirtz playing ahead of him.
The Hungarian had a slow start to his Liverpool career, but it picked up when Gakpo was injured.
It will be interesting to see if the Dutchman starts this weekend, given Wirtz is still nursing his hamstring issue, and if he does, how Kerkez’s performance will be impacted.
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