Alexander Isak has arrived at Liverpool amid a difficult time for Arne Slot.
The Dutchman saw his debut campaign at Anfield run smoothly, winning the Premier League title after finishing ten points ahead of Arsenal as he instantly made a name for himself on Merseyside.
However, despite spending just under £450m on new signings, Liverpool currently find themselves on a run of three consecutive defeats, with Alexander Isak yet to hit the ground running after a disrupted summer.
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It is imperative for the prolific Swede – scorer of 23 Premier League goals last term – to start firing as Liverpool struggle, although Joe Hart believes Florian Wirtz is the more “important” signing for Arne Slot.
Joe Hart says Florian Wirtz will be more “important” than Alexander Isak at Liverpool
All eyes are on Isak after he became the new British record signing thanks to his £125m fee, but Hart feels it is more important for Liverpool to get Wirtz clicking.
The 38-year-old told TNT Sports: “I think Florian Wirtz is the most important one (of the new signings).
“He played for Bayer Leverkusen and he was a boyhood player there, and for many seasons he was at his best because the whole team flowed through him. They understood his qualities. They understood what made their team tick, so he just needs a little bit of time.
“He (Slot) just needs to manage him as best he can. There’s no doubting his quality. They wouldn’t have signed him otherwise. He’s a brilliant player, but he just needs to bed him in.”
Wirtz – who Julian Nagelsmann has defended – currently has just one assist to show for his efforts in ten appearances so far this season, but he is not the only one struggling to deliver.
Even Mohamed Salah – who admires Virgil van Dijk – only has three goals in ten games this term, so it is clear that Liverpool are yet to settle across the board after a summer where the squad changed significantly at Anfield.
Florian Wirtz display in Germany 4-0 Luxembourg proves he is doing the right things
It would be easy for the £116m man to go missing amid his difficult start to life at Liverpool, but he is admirably still getting on the ball and trying to make things happen – as his display for Germany against Luxembourg proved.
| Category | Statistic |
|---|---|
| Top stats | |
| Goals | 0 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Total shots | 5 |
| Accurate passes | 68/77 (88%) |
| Chances created | 4 |
| Dribbles | 0/2 |
| Attack | |
| Touches | 95 |
| Accurate crosses | 1/3 |
| Possession lost | 16 |
| Defence | |
| Tackles won | 0 |
| Clearances | 0 |
| Interceptions | 1 |
| Dribbled past | 0 |
| Duels | |
| Ground duels won | 0/4 |
| Aerial duels won | 0/0 |
| Fouls committed | 1 |
As you can see, the 22-year-old was heavily involved during a 4-0 win for Germany on Friday, notably creating four goalscoring opportunities, recording 66 passes in the opposition half and also hitting the woodwork.
One detail Wirtz needs to improve on – however – is his defending, having failed to win any of the four ground duels he was involved in against Luxembourg, and also committing a foul.
The Germany international is quite clearly capable of creating chances for Liverpool, but in the Premier League – arguably the most physical division around – you have to earn the right to play by winning your battles.
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