6 days ago
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Jason McAteer has called on Arne Slot to "be brave" and drop Florian Wirtz from the Liverpool side.
The German is yet to register a goal or assist in the Premier League since his expensive arrival from Bayer Leverkusen over the summer, and missed a golden opportunity to net for the Reds in Saturday’s 3-2 defeat against Brentford. Instead, Wirtz flashed his shot just wide of Caoimhin Kelleher’s post.
While the 22-year-old impressed in the midweek win over Eintracht Frankfurt, against Brentford, his lack of physicality was an issue once again. Too often, Wirtz was eased off the ball, and he was replaced late on as Liverpool searched for a way back into the match.
Wirtz has admitted he has struggled with the physical demands of the Premier League since his summer arrival, and McAteer feels Slot should be more selective when choosing which games Liverpool’s No. 7 starts in
“He’s still searching for good relationships to be forged,” McAteer told Stadium Astro on Slot’s team selection.
“He’s still searching for his best team; I don’t think he knows his best team. Whatever he has tried is not working.
“Obviously, with [Alexander] Isak’s injury, it kind of opened the door or made it an easier decision to put [Mohamed] Salah back in [against Brentford], Ekitike up top, and Wirtz just moves into the centre. But again, for me, the big decision was: do you play Wirtz?
“I don’t think Wirtz can play in these really physical games yet. I know he’s cost a lot of money, and I know it’s a brave decision for the manager to drop him two, three times on the spin, but sometimes you’re going to have to do it. Be brave.”
McAteer also feels opponents no longer fear coming up against Liverpool after the Reds suffered a fourth consecutive league defeat over the weekend.
“Teams are willing to take Liverpool on now and be more expansive,” said the former Republic of Ireland international. “Liverpool have lost their aura. You create that by being champions and churning out results.
“I think Brentford deserved the win,” he added, reflecting on Saturday’s game. “I don’t think Liverpool did enough.
“It was the same glaring problems: defensively weak at the back, created opportunities but you have to manage the game better.
“Arne Slot has now got a big target on his back after what he did last season, and teams are growing in confidence. They are finding a way of playing against Liverpool.
“For me, the blueprint was set last season by the likes of Everton and Crystal Palace, who bullied Liverpool into results. They took Liverpool to the wire and got something out of them. Teams are following suit.”
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