The 20-year-old, who arrived from Bayer Leverkusen in a blockbuster £116 million deal, was deployed on the left wing for the 1–0 win at Anfield — a tactical tweak that left many fans and pundits surprised. Despite spending much of his career as a central playmaker, Wirtz excelled in his new role, linking play seamlessly and creating dangerous opportunities in the final third.
However, Slot isn’t too concerned about the exact position the young midfielder plays. The Dutch manager believes what matters most is getting Wirtz on the ball in the right areas — particularly around the box.
> “Florian can play in more than one position,” Slot explained. “At Leverkusen, he operated mainly from the left when Xabi Alonso introduced the 3-4-3 system. Before that, he was more of a number 10. What’s important for us is to put him in positions where he can hurt the opposition — near or inside the 18-yard box.”
Since joining Liverpool, Wirtz has mostly featured in his natural attacking midfield role but has also been rotated out of the starting lineup in a few Premier League games. Yet his standout displays against Eintracht Frankfurt and Real Madrid have shown Slot that the youngster’s adaptability could become one of the team’s biggest assets.
Slot also praised Dominik Szoboszlai, who has recently reclaimed his central playmaking role with back-to-back top-level performances. When asked if Szoboszlai’s display against Real Madrid reminded him of Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, Slot smiled:
> “That’s probably the biggest compliment he can get! Dominik has been fantastic all season, but in these last two games, he’s shown another level. His work with and without the ball has been exceptional.”
Liverpool’s recent victories have brought renewed optimism after a patchy run of form. With Wirtz finding his rhythm and Szoboszlai thriving under Slot’s system, fans believe the Reds could be witnessing the formation of a new creative duo capable of dominating Europe.
As Slot put it, “It’s not just about positions — it’s about connections. When these players combine, we play our best football.”
⚽🔥 Liverpool fans can’t wait to see what’s next for Wirtz, Szoboszlai, and Slot’s dynamic Reds.
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