"Might cause a bit of an issue" - Pundit explains why Florian Wirtz is a 'problem' for Arne Slot at Liverpool

Manchester United legend turned pundit Dwight Yorke believes Florian Wirtz’s presence is hindering Liverpool manager Arne Slot from deploying the best tactical setup. Yorke claims Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike can replicate his iconic partnership with Andy Cole only if Slot is brave enough to play the pair together.

Wirtz, who joined Liverpool in a whopping £116 million deal from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, has endured a slow start at the Merseyside club.

During an interview with Snabbare, Yorke referenced his rivalry with Cole, arguing that Liverpool could unlock a lethal combination in Isak and Ekitike if the pair are played together. He urged creating a competitive spirit in the team before reflecting on how his move to Manchester United affected the existing strike force, noting how Cole gladly accepted the new challenge.

“You have got to create a healthy atmosphere around the place. If you create a competitive spirit where you feel like you’re competing with friends all on the same team then there’s no hatred or bad feeling there. That’s the first thing,” Yorke said. “Coley wasn’t hateful of me coming to United. I was coming to challenge him for his position at first because I was the new signing, the new kid on the block, but he accepted that challenge. He didn’t accept that I was a better player than him. He had to believe in his own ability. He was willing to fight, and don’t forget that Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer were there as well. The competition was even greater. Coley could have taken the easy option and left the club. He didn’t because he trusted his ability. That’s the second thing.

Yorke explained that he had a successful partnership with Cole because they both understood their complementary roles.

“On the flip side, I was the expensive new signing but that didn’t guarantee me anything," he continued. "I had to go and show what I was capable of doing. I think the gaffer got lucky because I wasn’t really a nine. I can play nine but I was more of a link player, I liked to get involved in the play, so it sorted itself out. We had two flying wingers and I could jump into pockets and Coley played as the nine. Liverpool’s players can find a solution for themselves too. That’s the third thing.

The former Trinidadian international believes Slot could have a similar situation with Isak and Ekitike – two players he believes can adapt to any position in the front line. However, he reckons that Wirtz’s price tag might deter Slot from allowing a potential partnership upfront between Isak and Ekitike.

“Isak could be the nine. Ekitike can play wide. But you won’t know until Slot is forced into trying it. He might go that way like how Sir Alex fell into what worked for me and Coley. The problem Liverpool have got is Florian Wirtz. That might cause a little bit of an issue because of the money he has come in on too. But Slot has to trust himself and trust his instincts on whether Ekitike and Isak can score goals together because they can both score goals as individuals. You’d think together they are only going to be a bigger threat for their opposition," Yorke conclued.

Florian Wirtz labeled ‘problem’ after Liverpool’s 3-0 loss to Manchester City

Gary Neville didn’t hold back in his assessment of Florian Wirtz’s performance after Liverpool were put to the sword 3-0 by Manchester City in Sunday’s clash at Etihad Stadium. The former Manchester United defender acknowledged Wirtz’s qualities but claimed that he was kept under wraps by Matheus Nunes during the contest.

“He's a really good player and technically fantastic, but he's been mauled out there today by [Matheus] Nunes and by others. He's been chucked around the pitch and didn't deliver in the quality side of things either. His performance was a real worry. “Wirtz is a problem, let's call it what it is. It's an issue. He's £120m and he looked like a little boy out there. It can't be the case. He's a German international of great standing and he looks well short of what you'd expect from a top physical match,” Wirtz said.

So far, Wirtz has only registered three assists in a Reds shirt in 16 appearances across competitions.

Edited by Ezekiel Olamide