Saved by Wirtz: Slot must finally sell Liverpool flop who lost 100% duels
Liverpool have been their own worst enemies in this Premier League season. Arne Slot’s squad continues to revive, having secured a victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield. Yet again, the Reds fans were subjected to heart-stopping moments during the final minutes, under pressure after conceding yet another set-piece. Liverpool find themselves back in the top four, with Ryan Gravenberch netting the opener before Florian Wirtz linked up with the in-form Hugo Ekitike before halftime.
How Wirtz needed that goal. The German playmaker is starting to settle in on Merseyside and has finally gotten off the mark.
How Florian Wirtz has come alive at Liverpool
Liverpool paid Bayer Leverkusen a record £116m for Wirtz this summer. This was the British transfer record before Alexander Isak’s move to the club on the deadline day. Wirtz, at 22, has faced heavy criticism as a Premier League player this season. The attention has been overwhelming at times. However, after scoring, he has cemented what has quietly been a commendable form for the German international.
Having set up Ekitike last week, the striker returned the favor against Wolves, who still sit at the bottom of the table with only two points. He won 11 duels and made eight successful dribbles, according to Sofascore, clearly outperforming his peers and opponents. Wirtz is beginning to flourish, and it’s essential to remember that Liverpool has been lackluster and unbalanced this year, falling short of expectations.
He certainly has a future at Liverpool, but unfortunately, the same cannot be said for all of the Reds, particularly with one of Wirtz’s attacking colleagues heading in the opposite direction against struggling Wolves.
FSG must now sell Liverpool flop
Liverpool boasts a skilled group of forwards, yet Federico Chiesa has struggled to find regular minutes since his transfer from Juventus for a bargain £12.5m in 2024.
His situation has improved since the summer, but he has still been kept on the outskirts, playing a somewhat more significant role than he did in last year’s title-winning side. Injuries and absences provided him a rare Premier League start against Wolves, but the £150k-per-week Italian did not capitalize on it. The Liverpool Echo highlighted that while Chiesa contributed to Gravenberch’s first goal, he was largely ineffective down the right flank, minimally involved and lacking the energy that Slot required. He was given a match-low score of 5/10.
Chiesa’s Game in Numbers
Match Stats
#
Minutes played
61′
Goals
0
Assists
0
Touches
23
Shots (on target)
0 (0)
Accurate passes
10/16 (63%)
Chances created
0
Crosses
0/2
Dribbles
0/1
Recoveries
2
Tackles
0/0
Ground duels
0/3
Data via Sofascore
Chiesa has faced minimal opportunities at Liverpool, marking this as his first Premier League start at Anfield. He was defeated in all three of his ground duels and failed to complete a single dribble.
Perhaps he let a precious opportunity slip away, potentially taking with it the chance for consistent starting positions over the upcoming weeks. It’s also worth noting that Dominik Szoboszlai was unavailable on Saturday due to suspension.
With speculation of interest emerging from his native country in recent months, FSG might determine that Chiesa should be offloaded following his season-and-a-half stint at Liverpool. As Mohamed Salah returns from AFCON, his playing time will further diminish, especially since Slot has shown a preference for using Jeremie Frimpong in an advanced role. ‘Fede’ has demonstrated his Midas touch upfront this season, scoring twice from the bench in the Premier League. However, he may be better suited as a super-sub.
Perhaps Slot indeed understands a thing or two about management. If Liverpool pursues a new winger, it could trigger Chiesa’s sale. This might prove to be the optimal decision for everyone involved, provided the Italian desires to secure regular football throughout his prime years.
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Published: 2025-12-27 20:15:00
source: www.footballfancast.com
