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Former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch has outlined why Arne Slot opted to leave Florian Wirtz out of his side for Saturday's Merseyside derby.
Wirtz drops to the Liverpool bench as the Premier League champions welcome Everton for the 247th Merseyside derby. Having started five consecutive matches this season, the German playmaker is named among the substitutes, with Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch lining up alongside Alexis Mac Allister in midfield.
That switch is one of four changes made by Slot with Hugo Ekitike retaining his place as the lone striker, while Alexander Isak has to settle for a role on the bench after making his Reds debut against Atletico Madrid. Eyebrows were raised when the team selection was announced, but Crouch explained his thoughts behind the move.
Speaking on TNT Sports during the build up to the game, Crouch suggested that Slot’s choice was less about Wirtz’s ability and more about tailoring the midfield to the specific demands of a derby match.
He said: “It’s difficult to adjust coming from a different country and playing in the Premier League. If ever there’s a high energy game it’s the Merseyside Derby.
“You look at Everton’s midfield there’s some legs, energy and a lot of strength in there as well. I think Arne Slot might have just been going for a little bit more steel in midfield.
“I totally get the decision.”
On Wirtz being on the bench, Slot explained: "The same thinking as Alexis Mac Allister on the bench against Atletico. Like I said, it's three games in seven days, not in eight days.
"This is Sunday, Wednesday, then Saturday. This is one of the most intense games that we have to play, so we try to manage it during Burnley and Atletico.
"For today, I think Dominik Szoboszlai, who played both of those games as well, is more used to the intensity of the Premier League and this programme than Florian, who is coming from Germany.
"So it's only to do with so many games in limited time. I think he will feature, but not from the start."
There was only a short turnaround between this fixture and the midweek clash with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, which may explain some of Slot’s rotation especially with the Reds opening its Carabao Cup campaign against Southampton in 72 hours time.
That upcoming game is expected to see Curtis Jones, Federico Chiesa and Jeremie Frimpong return to the starting XI after beginning this one on the bench.
Rio Ngumoha, the standout performer of pre-season, could also be handed a start, with the youngster also named among the substitutes.
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