Arne Slot has defined how Florian Wirtz is the substitute Liverpool wanted when Trent Alexander-Arnold ran down his contract to maneuver to Actual Madrid.
Alexander-Arnold’s efforts to depart his boyhood membership have left a bitter style within the mouths of supporters, however Slot and his employees have rapidly moved on.
A exceptional summer season of spending which quantities to £295 million thus far, and will feasibly exceed £450 million, has improved a title-winning squad and revamped their setup.
Central to that’s the British file signing of Wirtz, who has shone all through pre-season together with in his pure No. 10 position in Monday’s 3-2 win over Athletic Membership at Anfield.
Chatting with LFCTV after the sport – which adopted an earlier 4-1 victory over the identical aspect – Slot detailed his renovation work and pointed to Wirtz as a substitute for Alexander-Arnold’s creativity.
“I feel there’s at all times room for enchancment, in each division,” the top coach defined.
“We’ve added just a few, for my part, further weapons.
“Florian has numerous creativity within the ultimate third. We’ve misplaced, with Trent, numerous creativity from the again.
“So Trent’s crosses and selecting out runners was so particular; I feel Flo has this high quality as effectively – in a very completely different place, however he brings that creativity.
“(We now have additionally added) the tempo of Hugo, the tempo of each full-backs – Milos and Jeremie.
“You want to make, in each factor you do, the subsequent step, as a result of our rivals usually are not sitting nonetheless both.
“Not solely do they attempt to enhance as effectively, however they’ve additionally made numerous signings like all of us have.
“In order that’s why it’s going to be a really attention-grabbing Premier League once more.”
Whereas Liverpool’s curiosity in Wirtz goes again years, it’s possible that their determination to push forward with a £116 million deal was partly knowledgeable by the lack of Alexander-Arnold.
The No. 66 was such a novel expertise in his beginning position as a right-back that it was broadly anticipated that his exit would immediate a change in how the Reds construct up their assaults.
Now it’s set to run by means of Wirtz because the central hub in a 4-2-3-1, whereas – as Slot famous – new full-backs Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong will supply extra of an orthodox presence with relentless power up the flanks.
Thus far, the indicators are that this may very well be a profitable evolution of an already excellent aspect, and Wirtz is essential to that.
