Owen Hargreaves has called on Liverpool boss Arne Slot to rethink how he uses Florian Wirtz after the £116m signing’s slow start at Anfield.
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The former Bayern Munich and Manchester United midfielder believes Liverpool have lost the midfield balance that made them so strong last season. Hargreaves pointed to the trio of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai as “the best in the league” before Wirtz’s arrival.
“They’ve tried to get him in, and then Szoboszlai has played at right back, and I just think the balance is off,” Hargreaves said. “When you pay that money, you’ve got to play him really. But I just think it’s a balance issue.”
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Wirtz joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in June for a deal rising to £116m after contributing 31 goals and assists last season in Germany. But in six Premier League appearances he is yet to register a goal or assist, contrasting with his award-winning form at Leverkusen.
Arne Slot has defended the team’s adaptation period, saying Premier League opponents have shifted tactics to frustrate the Reds and insisting Liverpool must find new solutions.
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Wirtz will get further chances to prove himself with a tough run of fixtures, including Chelsea away on Saturday and Manchester United at Old Trafford, before a return to Germany against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League on October 22.