Arne Slot uses parts of each bide press conference to defend Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak. Liverpool’s biggest investments show flashes, but have all but given Liverpool extra power in attack this season. Wirtz was brought to Anfield with 34 goals and 35 assists in the last two seasons, a driving and creative force in the Bayer Leverkusen side that claimed the historic Bundesliga title. At Liverpool, there has been little goal involvement so far (3 assists in 15 games). However, the Liverpool management is not worried, they have other metrics that count more in their debut season.
According to Daily Mail journalist Lewis Steele, Liverpool don’t even use goal and assist metrics as a method to judge Wirtz’s progress.
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Steele writes: “Liverpool see the main goal for Wirtz this season as a physical goal. Can they build him up to Premier League standards? Can they build up his basic form so that he can play at high intensity three times a week?”
There has been a perception that Wirtz has found the Premier League more demanding physically than the Bundesliga, where he was again more effective at creating and converting chances. It looks like this is the “game” Liverpool want Wirtz to focus on winning.
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For pundits and pundits, Wirtz is measured on goals and assists, but for Liverpool, Wirtz is a long-term investment to build up to deliver in the long run in the red shirt. Then the physique and toughness must be in place first.
