Slot Defends Wirtz Amid Focus on Liverpool’s New Signings
Liverpool’s Champions League campaign hit another setback with a 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray in Istanbul, just days after their Premier League loss to Crystal Palace. Arne Slot admitted frustration at the result but stressed his side are not far from the level that delivered last season’s title.
Slot reflects on narrow Champions League loss
The decisive moment came in the first half when Baris Alper Yilmaz was adjudged to have been fouled by Dominik Szoboszlai. Victor Osimhen converted the resulting penalty, beating Alisson Becker to give Galatasaray the lead. From that point on, Liverpool struggled to create sustained momentum in a stop-start contest.
Slot acknowledged his team were second-best after the interval but pointed to improvements compared to the defeat at Selhurst Park. Speaking after the match, the Liverpool manager said:
“Disappointed, of course. First half we played quite well and created a big chance to go ahead. Galatasaray made it difficult, they were clever in the way they won the penalty and slowed down the rhythm after half-time. It’s small margins again, like last season, but this time we are on the wrong side.”
Wirtz under spotlight as expectations rise
Florian Wirtz, who arrived for £100 million in the summer, once again played the full 90 minutes without a direct goal contribution. Slot defended the young midfielder, highlighting his involvement in Liverpool’s most threatening moments in the first half.
“There will always be focus on new signings when you invest the way we did,” Slot explained. “Florian today was very involved in dangerous situations and showed the quality we know he has. It takes time to connect with the rest of the team, especially when we are rotating players across different games.”
Rotation strategy creates challenges
Slot made four changes from the side that faced Crystal Palace, including a surprise decision to bench Mohamed Salah. The Dutch coach argued that fixture congestion and squad management demanded such alterations, particularly with another testing trip to Chelsea ahead.
“We have to manage minutes carefully. When you change three or four positions, naturally there are moments where the chemistry is not at its best. That is part of the process at this stage of the season,” he said.
Confidence remains in long-term progress
Despite back-to-back defeats, Slot was keen to frame the setbacks as part of the wider picture rather than signs of deeper issues. He pointed out that Liverpool remain well placed in both domestic and European competition, with the campaign still in its early months.
“We’ve lost one game in the Champions League and one in the Premier League. Of course, we expect more, but I don’t believe we are far from the level we showed last year. The squad is evolving and with new signings like Wirtz adjusting, we will get stronger,” he concluded.
Liverpool’s supporters may feel restless after consecutive reverses, yet Slot’s tone suggested measured belief that short-term struggles will give way to progress once the team’s new signings fully integrate. The immediate challenge is Chelsea away, another difficult test in what has been a demanding run of fixtures.
