Arne Slot believes Florian Wirtz's recent strong form is down to a growing understanding with his Liverpool team-mates.
Liverpool's £100million (€115m) midfielder was the subject of criticism at the start of his Anfield career, with no goals or assists in the Premier League until he set up Alexander Isak in the 2-1 win over Tottenham on 20 December and his first league goal coming a week later.
While it certainly took time for Wirtz to adjust to the Premier League, not least physically, [the German was outstanding in last week's 4-1 win over Newcastle](https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2026/0131/1556090-ekitike-turns-on-style-as-liverpool-ease-past-newcastle/), continuing a trend which has seen him score six goals in his last 10 appearances.
As Wirtz prepares for Sunday's match against Manchester City - a club heavily linked with him before Liverpool made their move - the narrative around him has shifted markedly.
"I think it's all, first and foremost, always credit to the player because he has to do the work not only on the pitch, also in the gym," Slot said of Wirtz.
"And then as a manager, even if he is maybe physically struggling a little bit in the start, you need to keep on playing him because that's the only way players can improve.
"He is an example of that where I had many of them this season. So, I think he did not even improve that much on the ball because from the start he was special on the ball."
Keeping Wirtz in the team even when his performances were being questioned not only helped him acclimatise physically, it also helped him develop a better understanding with his team-mates.
"Maybe now he has a better connection with his team-mates because he played more and more together," Slot added. "That's also what you get if you play them more and more together. But off the ball I see the biggest improvement with him and with some others.
"That combination makes you ready for the Premier League, because the Premier League is about both. It's not only on the ball, it's also definitely off the ball."
Slot's Liverpool defeated Man City 2-0 at Anfield last season
In recent years matches between Liverpool and City have been crunch games in title fights between the two, but going into Sunday's meeting at Anfield, only City are realistically in the battle with Arsenal at the top of the table, with Liverpool 14 points off the pace set by Mikel Arteta's side.
For Slot, this can still be a key barometer of where Liverpool are in a season of transition.
"It's another moment for us to see where we are in the development of this team," he said. "We also know the importance of a result on Sunday but that goes for all the 20 teams that are playing this weekend in the Premier League.
"It's the end phase of the season so results matter more and more. (City are) a very good team that were even able to win (on Wednesday) against (Newcastle) who we beat during the weekend not even with their starters. That tells you...what a force City still is and always will be."