Why Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has to take ‘accountability’ for Florian Wirtz struggles after summer signing

Liverpool forward Florian Wirtz is yet to register a goal or an assist in the Premier League since joining from Bayer Leverkusen in a reported £116m deal in the summer. Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann defended the player following another disappointing individual display in Liverpool's 3-0 loss at Manchester City, but Joleon Lescott told The Breakdown that the blame lies with Arne Slot.

Arne Slot has to "take some accountability" for Florian Wirtz's early struggles at Liverpool following his big-money move from Bayer Leverkusen, according to TNT Sports pundit Joleon Lescott.

Wirtz is yet to record a goal or an assist in the top flight since joining in a reported £116m deal in the summer.

Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann has defended Wirtz, saying Liverpool could be doing more to "help him out", with the playmaker having his biggest impact so far in Champions League outings.

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Lescott feels Slot could have managed Wirtz's minutes differently, in the same way Jurgen Klopp took his time blooding the likes of Fabinho and Ryan Gravenberch at the start of their careers at Anfield.

Speaking after Liverpool's 3-0 defeat to Manchester City, Lescott told TNT Sports' The Breakdown: "The worry for me and what was telling is that Liverpool vs Man City match-ups in the past six or seven years have always been close. That wasn't close.

"I'd give [Arsenal manager Mikel] Arteta more credit for the way he's handled [Eberechi] Eze. People said that he should be in a team, and he should be starting. But Mikel was patient, because he did well at Crystal Palace, but then when you go to Arsenal, you have to perform.

"It's a similar situation to Florian Wirtz coming from Bayer Leverkusen, where he now has to perform, but Slot didn't give him a grace period of bedding him in, letting him find his feet.

'Change of playing style' affected Wirtz at start of Liverpool career, says Slot

Video credit: TNT Sports

"It's on Slot the way he's managed it, not the fact he's brought him in. I understand when you lose Trent [Alexander-Arnold], you need a replacement. When you sell [Luiz] Diaz, you need a replacement. Obviously, the tragedy that happened with [Diogo] Jota, you need replacements.

"But, the way it's been handled, he definitely has to take some accountability."

'Slot must go back to tried and tested'

Liverpool looked as though they had turned a corner with back-to-back wins at Anfield against Aston Villa and Real Madrid, keeping two clean sheets to boost confidence heading into their trip to the Etihad Stadium last weekend.

But familiar failings came to the fore as Pep Guardiola's men ripped their opponents apart with three unanswered goals, leaving more question marks over the ailing champions heading into the third international break of the season after spending around £415m on attacking talent in the summer.

Highlights: Mac Allister goal sees Reds beat Real, Alexander-Arnold booed

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Former England midfielder Owen Hargreaves believes Slot has struggled to knit the old guard with the new faces at the club, and feels the sizable transfer fees have placed added pressure on instant results.  

"I think they bought too many players, and he's had to accommodate all of them. You can't buy £100m players and not play them. He's trying to accommodate the group. He's tried to get the new boys in.

"The first game of the season, when they played Bournemouth, I think for the first time ever, a defending champion played with four new players. You never would have seen Arsenal or Manchester United of the past do that.

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"I think he's tried to think, 'right, we'll get away with this, because all the boys are brilliant', but it's upset the balance of the team so significantly, I don't think anybody envisioned. Now, he'll go back to the tried and tested, because he needs to. But I think, trying to play the new signings, I actually think it shows that there's a bit of empathy there.

"But in the end, it's affected the group, and now he's got to go back to tried-and-tested."

What's happened to Liverpool's 'Dependables'?

While a lot of the focus has been on the struggles of Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, and, to a lesser extent, Alexander Isak to hit the ground running, Ally McCoist has called on the experienced members of Slot's squad to rediscover the form that took Liverpool to their second Premier League title at a canter last season.

Mohamed Salah was the club's top scorer with 29 goals in 2024/25 and also contributed 18 assists, but the 33-year-old has managed just four league goals this term.

'There has been a drop in form from Salah' - McCoist assesses Liverpool struggles

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McCoist began: "The new signings have been a problem. The two full-backs [Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong] have struggled. I know Frimpong has been injured... while Wirtz is struggling to find his way.

"The thing with Slot is, yes, of course, he's responsible. He's got to take responsibility, but there are a number of factors as well, which we haven't mentioned. We mentioned the new signings. Has that given him a problem? Yes, it has.

"Who would have foreseen [Mohamed] Salah's form? The goalkeeper Alisson is out [injured]. [Ryan] Gravenberch's been struggling. [Alexis] Mac Allister's been struggling.

"So, never mind the new signings... the ones he's relied on last season, are either carrying an injury, or just haven't performed at anything like the level."

Liverpool play Nottingham Forest after the international break on November 22 before facing PSV in the Champions League on November 26, live on TNT Sports and discovery+ - two games that loom large for Wirtz to begin making his mark in a red shirt.

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