Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has had to renege on his promise to play Florian Wirtz as the no.10.
The German international started on the left wing during the 1-0 win over Real Madrid on Tuesday night, but Wenger thinks that Slot has had to revert to what worked last season to get the team performing well. Consequently, that means the Dutchman has had to scrap the plan he had for Wirtz:
“Liverpool is an interesting example. When Wirtz had the choice between going to Bayern Munich or Liverpool, he said to Liverpool, ‘I come to you if I play No. 10, I do not want to play wide’, Liverpool to get him, they say ‘okay’. So they start him (in the No.10 position), but they destroy their midfield.”
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“To play Wirtz, they took Szoboszlai out (of the No. 10 position). Against Aston Villa, they come back to their normal midfield of last year. Tonight, they play Wirtz on the side (left), because the manager has said if you want to play a game, you have to play wide, because I do not want to destroy the midfield. He (Wirtz) will have to play left where he was at Leverkusen.”
Wirtz is not ready to play in the midfield three
There can be no disputing the fact that the Reds have struggled to work as a unit when the German has played as a no.10. Recent wins against Aston Villa and Real have come about after the midfield trio of Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai were restored.
Until Wirtz can be trusted to play in place of one of those three players, Slot will have to accommodate him elsewhere, and the left wing is the best solution for the time being. It will be interesting to see how he sets up his team against Manchester City.
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