Florian Wirtz Reveals how Arne Slot has Already Helped his Game at Liverpool | OneFootball

Florian Wirtz’s Liverpool Arrival Signals New Era of Creative Freedom

Liverpool’s record-breaking summer signing Florian Wirtz has spoken about the freedom he has been given by Arne Slot, as the club gears up for their Premier League title defence. In comments to The Times, Wirtz made it clear that while the fee could rise to a British record £116m, his focus is purely on delivering performances that justify the faith shown in him.

“I think I am a player who needs freedom on the pitch, and the manager gives it to me,” he explained. “Of course, I have to respect the position and the players around me, but I try to give my best on the pitch and find the right places. I have the freedom for this.”

Ready for Premier League Physicality

Wirtz, who arrived from Bayer Leverkusen alongside compatriot Jeremie Frimpong, is under no illusions about the demands of English football. “They tell me it’s more intense and more physical, every player is really strong, really fast. That is what everybody is telling me, and I’m aware of that.”

Photo: IMAGO

His passing statistics from last season’s Champions League underline his composure in high-pressure moments. Only Phil Foden completed passes at a higher rate when under intense opposition pressing, with Wirtz achieving an impressive 88.8% from 340 attempts. That level of precision could prove invaluable against aggressive Premier League midfields.

Slot’s Tactical Trust

In Monday’s friendly double-header against Athletic Bilbao, Wirtz featured in Slot’s stronger XI and showed versatility, drifting between forward and midfield roles while also pressing into the box when Liverpool were out of possession. Such flexibility appears central to Slot’s plans, especially with Trent Alexander-Arnold now at Real Madrid and Liverpool seeking new patterns of attacking play.

“I came [to Liverpool] because I thought I could fit in this team [straight away] and I am enjoying playing with these players. Every time it is getting a little bit better so I am happy with how it is going,” said Wirtz, who also praised Hugo Ekitike’s early impact following his move from Eintracht Frankfurt.

Title Defence Mindset

Having experienced a Bundesliga title win with Leverkusen and the difficulty of retaining it, Wirtz knows the challenge ahead. “The big challenge is to take the title again and it is the most difficult thing, so I try just to create chances and also work against the ball because I can also run a lot and I will try to bring this to the team.”

Liverpool’s season opens with the Community Shield against Crystal Palace, offering an early glimpse of how quickly Wirtz can translate his Bundesliga brilliance to the Premier League stage. As one rival manager put it, Wirtz is “sensational”, and his arrival could be the key to Liverpool evolving while retaining their ruthless edge.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

As Liverpool supporters, reading this report will have many of us feeling a surge of excitement. Slot has already shown he can deliver silverware in his debut season, and now he has added one of Europe’s most intelligent and technically gifted young players to his squad. Wirtz’s composure under pressure is the sort of quality that wins games at the very highest level, and the fact he is already linking up well with Salah, Szoboszlai and Ekitike is a huge boost before the competitive action starts.