In the aftermath of Liverpool‘s Champions League exit to Paris St-Germain, Slot insisted the future is bright. Eyebrows were certainly raised after that comment but if Liverpool can put in a string of performances in their remaining games then perhaps the Dutchman has a point. Integral to that will be Isak and Wirtz.
Last Saturday saw both of the summer signings, who cost a combined £241m, score against Crystal Palace but Isak is yet to complete 90 minutes as a Liverpool player after a season plagued with injury while Wirtz has impressed in moments but is still awaiting a statement performance for the side.
German Wirtz is yet to score or provide an assist against any of the Premier League teams currently occupying the European places but when that was put to Slot on Friday, he insisted that’s a “coincidence” and said he is “100% sure” Wirtz will start delivering in the bigger games.
Meanwhile, Isak managed just 18 touches against Palace but that was still more than the nine he got against Everton and the five against PSG in the other games he’s started since returning from injury. The goal he scored – the Swede’s first in the Premier League for Liverpool at Anfield – will only do the 26-year-old’s confidence a world of good.
“In terms of what I’ve seen, everyone knows and sees and experiences as team-mates how outstanding he is. It is about getting games, confidence but obviously scoring goals as a striker – that’s the main trigger for him,” said Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk.
“The more he touches the ball, the bigger chance there is that we score goals,” Slot added on Friday.
“Having Alex more and more available would help with converting created chances into goals, which is something we haven’t done very well this season.”
For Wirtz, the emphasis on connecting more with Isak is clear, especially with Hugo Ekitike sidelined.
“It’s important that we feed him with balls because if he’s just there on top alone then it’s hard for him to score goals,” Wirtz said.
His own tally of seven goals and 10 assists this season is certainly no room for major concern but Wirtz, who turns 23 on Sunday, would be the first to admit that he must do better.
The finish against Palace was a timely reminder of his class. In mitigation, he initially struggled with the intensity and physicality of Premier League football but has bulked up considerably since making the move from Bayer Leverkusen.
Those at Liverpool, including Slot, believe there is so much more to come from a player they fought Bayern Munich and Manchester City for.
“The development Florian has made in his Liverpool career is so clear and obvious,” said Slot. “In the 93rd minute against Crystal Palace, making a duel on the sideline, winning a throw-in and then making a sprint from 40 yards and hitting the ball in the top corner… That is something I am not completely convinced he could do eight months ago.
“His improvement – and he was already an elite player – will only continue as he is only 22 so that makes complete sense. Almost every player in the world is at his best when he is 25, 26 but he is already an elite player and he can only become better and that is the beauty of the signings we did last summer, that all of them are of a certain age where we can only expect them to get better,”
