Arne Slot sacrifices Isak to save Wirtz’s Liverpool career

Florian Wirtz finally clicked for Liverpool in the Champions League, but Arne Slot’s tactical tweak could leave record signing Alexander Isak out in the cold.

The Liverpool boss must feel like he’s playing whack-a-mole at the moment: as he solves one problem, another seems to pop up.

Against Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday, the Dutchman saw Wirtz give his most accomplished display yet since his move to Merseyside from Bayer Leverkusen, yet the impact of the German against Los Blancos leaves big questions over what role Isak has to play at Anfield.

Signed for a combined €270 million, the duo of Isak and Wirtz have caused unexpected problems. While it would be wrong to have expected the pair to immediately strike their best form after arriving on Merseyside, no one would have predicted that they would have failed to score a single goal in Premier League and European Cup action to this point of the season.

Slot has had to take evasive action to find a role for Wirtz, pushing him out to the left wing against Real Madrid and allowing Dominik Szoboszlai to operate in the No.10 role that was supposed to be reserved for the Germany star.

Wirtz destroyed Liverpool’s midfield – Arsene Wenger

Legendary former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger explained the problem facing the Liverpool manager on BeIn Sport: “When Wirtz had the choice between going to Bayern Munich or to Liverpool, he said to Liverpool: ‘I will come to you if I play No10, I do not want to play wide.’ Liverpool, to get him said: ‘Ok’.

“So they started him and they destroyed their midfield because their midfield was Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai. To play Wirtz they took Szoboszlai out.

“What have they done against Aston Villa? They came back to their normal midfield of last year.

“Tonight, against Real Madrid, they played Wirtz. I am sure the manager has said: ‘If you want to play again, you have to play wide because I do not want to disturb the midfield.’”

Slot with a problem to face

Slot undid the ‘damage’ that Wirtz had caused in the midfield three by moving him out the role, but having apparently solved this issue faces a whole new one in the form of Isak.

The Swede missed the Real Madrid clash because of the adductor injury that has kept him out for the last four matches, but when he returns, it’s unclear what his role might be.

While Slot was able to push Wirtz to the left wing in midweek as Hugo Ekitike, undoubtedly the pick of Liverpool’s summer signings this season, was moved through the middle, he will be harder pressed to find a role for Isak.

Ekitike, after all, has had the impact that many thought the former Newcastle striker would have. The Frenchman has looked accomplished in scoring six goals in all competitions, making himself at home in a way the British record signing has wholly failed.

So what does Slot do when Isak is fit? Risk the wrath of the misfiring striker by leaving him out for a spell on the bench or ditch €90m man Ekitike, who has undoubtedly been the more successful signing.

It’s a headache that Liverpool will be able to put off until after the international break, with Slot having already ruled the striker out from starting against Manchester City on Sunday.

Related stories:

Why did Liverpool fans boo Trent? Carragher cuts through media noise and reveals the truth

Florian Wirtz ‘wanted Real Madrid over Liverpool’

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