Arne Slot backs Florian Wirtz to shine after tough start at Liverpool

The 22-year-old joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in June for a fee that could rise to 116 million pounds but has yet to score or assist in the Premier League.

Wirtz has found it challenging to adapt to the pace and physicality of English football, with the Reds losing four of their last five league matches before beating Aston Villa at the weekend.

Wirtz came off the bench in that 2–0 win and is pushing for a start as Liverpool prepare to host Real Madrid in the Champions League at Anfield on Tuesday night.

Slot, however, has dismissed talk that Wirtz's slow start is a cause for concern and urged patience, pointing to Ryan Gravenberch as an example of a player who also needed time to adapt before impressing in England.

"You can say he has only started one of the last four, but you can also say he has started eight, nine, ten or eleven already this season," Slot said. "It is not an excuse, but the reality is that we often play three games in seven days with only two days of rest in between.

"For a player coming from another league, and the Bundesliga is a very good league, nine out of ten people would agree the Premier League is more intense. He has already played a lot and had an impact in many games, even if the end product has not been there yet."

Slot added that Wirtz has shown the creativity Liverpool expected when they signed him and believes his breakthrough will come soon.

"He has brought what we expected, a player who creates for the team," Slot said. "He will have his goals. It's no surprise that when you're 22 and come into a different league, you might need some time to adjust to that intensity, especially when you're playing every three days.

"Ryan Gravenberch needed time too, maybe even longer than it will take Florian."

Liverpool's clash with Real Madrid will be a major test for Slot's side as they aim to carry their domestic recovery into Europe, with Wirtz hoping to make his mark on the big stage.