With a win against Burnley on Sunday, Liverpool could secure the top spot in the league with a flawless record of four victories from four matches, but they appear far from their best play under Arne Slot. The challenge lies in integrating new recruits and optimizing squad roles as the second year under Slot unfolds, bringing forth difficult decisions.
Now, Alexander Isak is on board, introducing another layer of complexity to the lineup. Hugo Ekitike has made a strong impact early in the season, netting two goals and assisting once in league matches, yet he may need to shift to a wider position with Isak’s arrival. He has previously played second fiddle to Omar Marmoush during his tenure at Eintracht Frankfurt, so this adjustment shouldn’t be unknown for him in Liverpool’s setup, giving Slot more tactical flexibility.
How to Watch Burnley vs. Liverpool
- Date: Sunday, Sep. 14
- Time: 9 a.m. ET
- Location: Turf Moor – Burnley, England
- TV: USA
- Live Stream: Fubo
- Odds: Burnley +800; Draw +460; Liverpool -320
As the Champions League phase commences on Tuesday, rotation among players like Cody Gakpo, Florian Wirtz, and Ekitike will likely necessitate some sitting out, which may benefit Wirtz. So far, he has yet to register a goal or assist in three Premier League outings, representing a decline since his time at Bayer Leverkusen. Notably, Wirtz has been making nearly 25 fewer touches per game at Liverpool compared to previous seasons.
The reasons for this may include the team’s style of play and the tighter space prevalent in the Premier League. In addition, it’s crucial to acknowledge that Wirtz was previously the focal point at Leverkusen, where plays revolved around him. Now at Liverpool, he’s part of a star-studded squad, which means even Mohamed Salah doesn’t monopolize possession.
Wirtz is expected to reclaim more ball control as the season progresses; however, Liverpool is also strategically preparing for the future with their recent signings.
Slot’s formation seems ideally suited for a 3-4-3, yet it presents challenges with Salah playing, leaving the trio of Wirtz, Isak, and Ekitike potentially sidelined. The rotation dilemma extends to Dominik Szoboszlai as well, a typical challenge for top-tier clubs. It is essential for Slot to keep the players satisfied in their respective roles while dynamically managing the squad to maintain Liverpool’s league dominance. To date, he has successfully done this, even without requiring Wirtz to be at peak performance.
However, Wirtz must elevate his game in the Champions League. Last season, Liverpool topped the league phase yet fell short in the final and suffered an FA Cup elimination at the hands of Plymouth Argyle. While wins can mask such setbacks when chasing titles, failure to make significant progress this season could pave the way for growing concerns. As the matches start stacking, it’s vital for Wirtz to be at his best; underperformance can only go unnoticed for so long in the Premier League.
