"I used to pray for times like this", "I like that team a lot" - Fans react as Liverpool duo included in XI for Leeds United clash

Liverpool fans are delighted to see Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz in the starting XI against Leeds United in the Premier League. Many believe that the duo is going to help them get all three points and move closer to third-placed Aston Villa.

Arne Slot has picked Alisson in goal, with Conor Bradley and Andy Robertson as the full-backs. Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate continue as the center-backs, after playing the majority of league matches together this season.

Ryab Gravenberch plays in the pivot, with Curtin Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai to support him in the midfield. Jeremie Frimpong starts as the right winger, with Florian Wirtz on the opposite side and Hugo Ekitike leading the attack.

Liverpool fans are happy with the starting XI, with many claiming it's perfect. They posted:

Slot commented on Wirtz and his adaptation to the Premier League after his first goal last week and said:

"The biggest adaptation if you come from abroad is this league and how intense it is, because again [against Wolverhampton Wanderers] I think even when we play once a week you could see that Hugo [Ekitike] had cramp after 70 or 75 minutes." "And I didn't take Florian out because he played bad, I took him out because he was hardly able to keep on running anymore. That has also been the situation with him but also that tells you about the new players that we've brought in and how big of a step it is to adjust to these intensity levels."

Wirtz managed to score his first league goal for Liverpool against Wolverhampton in the 2-1 win at Anfield.

Arne Slot unsure if Florian Wirtz has turned the corner at Liverpool

Arnel Slot was quizzed on whether Florian Wirtz has finally managed to find his feet at the club, and the Liverpool manager was unsure about it. He said that it was a question only the German could answer and said:

"He's the only one who could answer that question. I can only answer from my experience being an old man, or at least much older than him! The first few months in a different country - because it was also my first experience going abroad - it's different. Your life is a bit upside down and that for a manager is probably not the biggest problem because I don't have to perform on the pitch, but I could fully understand that some individuals and some players need a bit of time to adapt off the pitch as well."

Liverpool are unbeaten in their last five Premier League matches, with three wins on the bounce.

Edited by Sripad