Arne Slot backs Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz to keep improving at Liverpool
By Carl Markham, Press Association
Head coach Arne Slot expects the improving form of Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz to drive Liverpool forward in the future after seeing significant contributions recently.
The two most expensive signings in the club’s history – costing a combined £241million – have had largely underwhelming first seasons due to Isak’s ongoing injury problems and Wirtz’s struggles adapting to the physicality of the Premier League.
But the pair both scored in last weekend’s 3-1 win over Crystal Palace and look set to start their fourth successive match together at Manchester United on Sunday, which is their longest run of the campaign.
Slot accepts the new arrivals have had their difficulties, not helped by an underperforming team around them, but in the last month has seen glimpses that both are finally starting to find their feet.
“Converting chances into goals is something we haven’t done very well throughout this whole season but one of the players (Isak) we always thought could score goals for us was hardly available,” said Slot.
“Last week you could see it was a chance but it wasn’t the biggest chance we’ve had this season and he finished that one off really well by scoring the 1-0 and scoring a goal which is vital in football as it sets you in the right direction.
“Happy to have Alex back. I think there are some other players that haven’t scored the amount of goals that I think they are able to, or they have shown in the past they are able to, and that will go back to normal in a certain moment and the sooner the better.”
Wirtz would come into that category with seven goals and 10 assists – none of which have come against Premier League opposition currently occupying European places – representing a lower-than-expected return for a £116m player hailed as a generational talent when he arrived from Bayer Leverkusen.
“For me the development Florian has made throughout his Liverpool career, which has only been 10 months, is so clear and obvious,” added Slot.
“In the 93rd minute against Crystal Palace making a duel on the sideline, winning a throw-in and then making a sprint from 40 yards and hitting the ball in the top corner – that is something I am not completely convinced he could do the same eight months ago.
“That improvement will only continue as he is only 22. Almost every player in the world is at his best when he is 25, 26 but he is already an elite player now and he can only become better.”
As part of the improvements for next season there are plans afoot to bolster the backroom staff with the club being linked with Etienne Reijnen, with whom Slot worked at Feyenoord and would have followed him to Anfield had there not been work permit issues which have now been resolved.
“We are always keeping our eyes open to improve the club and that means it could be a player but also a staff. We always look around to see how we can strengthen,” added Slot, who lost Aaron Briggs from his coaching team in December after he paid the price for poor set-piece performances.
Slot also said it was “a big relief” the departing Mohamed Salah’s hamstring injury was only minor and he was likely to play again this season, while admitting goalkeeper Alisson Becker remained a doubt for Old Trafford as he had not yet trained after seven matches out injured.
