In a timely revelation for Liverpool, manager Arne Slot has provided an exclusive update regarding a significant injury boost for the team—news that has been largely misreported by other outlets, save for us astute F365ers. As the Reds prepare to face Nottingham Forest this Saturday, they are eager to halt a concerning run of form that has seen them lose five of their last six Premier League matches, leaving them positioned eighth, a daunting eight points adrift from league leaders Arsenal. This slump is a stark contrast to their previous title-winning campaign, which began with five consecutive victories.
Slot has refrained from making excuses, despite frequently mentioning factors such as playing away fixtures, facing long ball tactics, and opponents tweaking their line-ups specifically for Liverpool. However, a persistent issue remains the squad’s lack of match fitness. Alexander Isak’s underwhelming debut season can partly be attributed to his delayed pre-season, offset by injury setbacks. Similarly, Alexis Mac Allister’s lacklustre performance has been met with understanding.
Florian Wirtz, however, has been afforded less patience following his £100 million transfer from Bayer Leverkusen. German media, seemingly disgruntled by his choice to join the Premier League over Bayern Munich, have suggested through Sport Bild (via Liverpool.com) that Mohamed Salah is hindering the young playmaker by withholding assists.
“Salah has provided three assists this season, all leading to goals for players who have been at the club longer,” reports claim. Accusations of him becoming a “major problem” for Liverpool, supposedly obstructing Wirtz’s development as the heir to the club’s attacking mantle, abound. Yet, while it’s reasonable to query Salah’s attacking output this season, we remain sceptical about his direct influence on Wirtz’s faltering start in the Premier League.
Though outlets reported Wirtz’s unavailability for the Forest match as a setback, evidence from past games suggests otherwise. Liverpool’s solitary win in their past six fixtures, a 2-0 triumph over Aston Villa, saw Wirtz play a mere 13 minutes. Thus far, the team has demonstrated a negative goal differential of -4 with him on the field in the Premier League—an indication of his hinderance rather than help.
Despite this, Slot remains optimistic about Wirtz’s potential return for Liverpool’s congested schedule of seven games in 22 days. Yet, considering his current impact, the 22-year-old may face a challenging path to reclaim a spot in a squad that seems to function more smoothly in his absence.