McAteer urges Slot to make bold call and drop Wirtz in physical Liverpool games
McAteer calls for brave Liverpool decision
Liverpool’s Premier League slide has turned from a blip into a worrying pattern. The 3-2 defeat to Brentford marked a fourth straight league loss and raised deeper questions about Arne Slot’s tactical balance and personnel choices. It was another afternoon where long balls and set pieces caused chaos, exposing familiar weaknesses that Liverpool’s new manager has yet to solve.
Jason McAteer, who knows the club and its demands better than most, has called for a “brave” decision. The former Red believes Slot must consider dropping Florian Wirtz in the most physically demanding matches until the German adapts fully to English football.
McAteer said: “Obviously, with Isak’s injury, it kind of opened the door or made it an easier decision to put Salah back in Ekitike up top, and Wirtz just moves into the centre. But again, for me, the big decision was, do you play Wirtz? Because I don’t think Wirtz can play in these really physical games yet, and I know he’s cost a lot of money. And I know it’s a brave decision for the manager to drop him two, three times on the spin, but sometimes you’re going to have to do it. Be brave.”
Wirtz adapting to Premier League demands
It is an observation that carries weight. Wirtz arrived from Bayer Leverkusen for £116 million, a marquee signing meant to symbolise Slot’s new era. Yet, in a league where physicality meets relentless tempo, the 22-year-old has often looked like a passenger in scrappy games. His touch and vision are immaculate, but when matches descend into a fight, Liverpool have been losing too many of those duels.
Slot’s dilemma is about balance. The manager wants to stay faithful to his footballing principles, but he has discovered that the Premier League requires pragmatism as well as style. Wirtz, a player who thrives in space and rhythm, has been suffocated by teams that press and tackle aggressively.
The call from McAteer reflects frustration not just with one player but with a wider problem. Liverpool, once the most combative side in England, look easier to bully. Brentford, Luton, and Wolves all showed that if you disrupt Liverpool’s flow, they can be unsettled.
Structural issues behind Liverpool’s struggles
Dropping Wirtz may not solve everything, but it could provide temporary relief. The lack of steel in midfield has been glaring, and until Ryan Gravenberch returns, Liverpool’s spine remains fragile. The defensive pairing has looked exposed, forcing the midfield to retreat and the creative players, including Wirtz, to engage in physical contests that do not suit their strengths.
A slight tactical shift could help. Slot might consider playing two defensive midfielders, one sitting deep to shield the defence and another recycling possession. That structure would give Wirtz more room to drift between lines and create without being dragged into unnecessary duels.
Wirtz is clearly adjusting. Reports suggest he has been focusing on strength training and conditioning, but the adaptation to Premier League intensity takes time. His quality is beyond doubt, yet Liverpool cannot afford to persist with an unbalanced system that leaves him exposed.
Liverpool’s test of character
McAteer’s comments reflect an era when Liverpool built success on resilience and work ethic. Slot’s task is to blend that tradition with technical progression. Dropping Wirtz occasionally may be the smart call, not an act of punishment but protection. The German will be vital long-term, but Liverpool need results now.
If Slot can steady the side, rediscover their fight, and build a foundation that allows talents like Wirtz to flourish, the club can climb back into contention. For now, pragmatism might have to take precedence over poetry.
