Arne Slot sent clear message as finger pointed over Florian Wirtz's struggles

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been told by Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann that Florian Wirtz's struggles aren't 'his fault'. Wirtz, 22, joined Liverpool for a record-breaking £116million during the summer transfer window, snubbing Bayern Munich in favour of the Premier League champions.

Manchester City and Real Madrid were also interested in the playmaker, who made his name at Bayer Leverkusen. Wirtz started well with an assist on his debut in the Community Shield, but in the 12 games since for club and country, he's contributed to just one goal - a direct free-kick against Northern Ireland during the last international break.

Wirtz wasn't able to provide a goal or assist in Germany's 4-0 victory over Luxembourg on Friday, but his performance was more reminiscent of his Leverkusen days. The 22-year-old created four chances, hit the post with one of his five shots, had 15 touches in the opposition's penalty area, and did his fair share of defensive work, despite playing as a No.10.

Post-match, Nagelsmann hailed Wirtz and defended his lack of end product since signing for Liverpool. "Even if he hasn't scored a goal, he's the player who creates the most chances in the Premier League," the German told Sport 1.

"It's not his fault if his team-mate doesn't create them, and the statistic isn't even a third of the truth. He simply has to get used to the league.

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"I've seen him feel completely liberated. He knows what he's capable of and how things work. Not everything has always been handed to him - he'll work hard now, too."

According to official Premier League statistics, though, Nagelsmann isn't correct. In fact, Wirtz isn't even in the top five players for most open-play chances created this season.

Will Florian Wirtz come good at Liverpool? Give us your prediction in the comments section.

Still, Wirtz has been a creative force under Slot, creating 17 chances in all competitions and looking demonstrably sharper in Champions League games. But that didn't stop Anfield legend Jamie Carragher from calling for Wirtz to be dropped - which he was ahead of last weekend's loss to Chelsea, Liverpool's third defeat in a row.

"Right now, I don't think the balance of the team is right and the obvious one that stands out is Florian Wirtz," Carragher bemoaned on CBS Sports. "He's just not at the races at all.

"He's a young boy coming into a new league - he has got plenty of time to go as a Liverpool player but right now I think he needs to come out of the team, Liverpool go back to what they were last season and then go from there and build some confidence, build some defensive solidity.

"Because right now it is a mess. It's not the losses, it is not the defeats. This has been coming from day one."

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