Arne Slot urges patience as Florian Wirtz adjusts to PL intensity at Liverpool

By Carl Markham, PA

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot insists Florian Wirtz has brought “exactly what we expected” when they made him the club’s first £100 million signing in the summer.

The tag of record signing is not one that has sat well at Anfield this season, as Alexander Isak, who usurped the Germany international with a £125m move from Newcastle, which broke the all-time British mark, has also struggled for different reasons.

Wirtz, whose eventual fee could rise to £116m, arrived as one of Europe’s hottest properties but his only significant contribution so far has been two assists in their last Champions League outing against Eintracht Frankfurt a fortnight ago.

The 22-year-old has started just two of the last six, one of which was that game in his homeland which was comfortably his best performance.

But Slot has continued to ask for patience as the player’s adapts to a new life in England.

“I’ve said this quite a lot, not being used as an excuse, but many times we have to play three games in seven days with only two days’ rest in between,” said the Dutchman ahead of the Champions League visit of Real Madrid.

“Nine out of 10 people would agree the Premier League is a bit more intense (than the Bundesliga), especially in all the games, so if you look at that then he already played a lot.

“He has had his impact in a lot of games but has been unlucky with the end product either by himself or his team-mates.

“For me, he exactly brought what we expected – a player who created a lot for the team.

“He will have his goals but I don’t think it comes as a surprise to anyone that if you’re 22 or 23 and come to a different league that you might need some time to adjust to that intensity.

“Ryan Gravenberch was sitting here before (at the press conference) and it took him a while to adjust to the intensity, maybe even longer than it is going to take Florian.”

Tuesday will see the first return to Anfield of academy graduate Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose departure in the summer was so acrimonious he was booed by his own fans when it was made public.

He is likely to get a similar reception from the crowd but his former team-mates and manager will welcome him back with open arms.

“I have great memories of the player and the human being. He was my vice-captain last season and I have memories of working with him which were only positive,” said Slot.

“How the fans…. I have no clue how that’s going to be but he gets a warm welcome from me, that’s for sure.”

That sentiment was echoed by midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, who added: “He is obviously a friend of mine so I will give him a hug, of course.”

A quirk of the fixture calendar means Liverpool face Real and Manchester City in back-to-back matches for the second successive season, although last March they were both at home.

The Reds 🆚 Real Madrid 📸 pic.twitter.com/EdHPvBmZUU

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 3, 2025

Slot insists the situation is incomparable as both teams have changed much in the interim.

“It is not the same because last season we faced a Real Madrid who had many injuries and now they haven’t. It is not the same because last season we were a different team than now where now all the injuries are back.

“But every moment we play at that moment in time and every single time is always a test to see where we are.”