Wirtz returned to the starting XI for the Palace fixture, having been left out of the lineup for the previous Premier League meeting with Everton. ..Continue Reading
He had featured in Liverpool’s four prior league outings, including games against Newcastle United and Arsenal.
However, the 22-year-old, signed for a staggering £116 million in the summer, has struggled to make a significant impact since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen.
To help spark his form, Slot positioned Wirtz in a new role at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
Alexis Mac Allister joined Ryan Gravenberch in the heart of midfield, Dominik Szoboszlai operated further forward, and Wirtz appeared to take up a place on the left side, rather than his usual No.10 position.
Yet confusion arose among Liverpool fans as Wirtz frequently moved centrally, leaving the left wing exposed despite Milos Kerkez’s efforts to cover.
One X user wrote: “Who’s playing on the left? Because Wirtz isn’t staying there.”
A second said: “The harsh reality is, we’re a better team without Wirtz at the moment.”
A third added: “Slot needs to take off Wirtz and bring on Chiesa or Cody.”
A fourth commented: “Anyway, what’s our formation? Who is playing left wing, as Wirtz is in the middle all the time?”
Based on Wirtz’s showing in the first half, Slot might consider turning to his substitutes like Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa to inject energy into the side.
Wirtz has faced challenges adapting to the Premier League since his transfer from Germany.
He remains without a goal or assist since his debut in the Community Shield.
Before the Palace match, Wirtz shared that he had discussed his difficulties with Slot.
“I recently talked to the coach about it, and he suggested why I might not be able to get into the situations I normally get into,” he told Sky Germany.
“That is, that I’m making the game fast with a dribble or a pass. He said it could be because we press a lot and I run a lot.”
Wirtz added: “For example, the running stats: I’m always at the top there because I try to push hard and do what the coach asks.
“I need a lot of strength and energy for that, so when I have the ball I might be lacking a little bit.
“[He said] that it will simply come step by step, as I play more games, get fitter, be able to do things more easily, and then, when I have the ball, be fit enough and recovered enough to push hard.”
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