
Florian Wirtz Benched by Arne Slot for Crunch Chelsea Clash After Slow Start to Life at Liverpool After £116m Signing
A Bold Call from Arne Slot as Pressure Mounts on Liverpool’s Record Signing
When Liverpool’s team sheet dropped an hour before kick-off at Stamford Bridge, the name missing from the starting XI told its own story. Florian Wirtz — Liverpool’s £116 million summer signing and the most expensive German player in Premier League history — was on the bench.
It’s a decision that speaks volumes. Arne Slot, known for his calculated and brave tactical calls, has chosen to leave out the club’s marquee arrival for one of the most important fixtures of the early campaign — a crunch clash against Chelsea.
For Wirtz, it marks another frustrating chapter in what has so far been a turbulent start to life at Anfield. For Slot, it’s a move designed to steady the ship, but one that comes with risk — benching a generational talent who was supposed to be the creative heartbeat of a new Liverpool era.
The £116 Million Gamble That Has Yet to Pay Off

Florian Wirtz
When Liverpool announced the signing of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen in July, it was greeted with a mix of excitement and awe. The 21-year-old arrived with a reputation as one of Europe’s most gifted playmakers — the poster boy of Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen revolution, and the creative force behind their Bundesliga title charge.
He was meant to be the player who would take Liverpool’s attacking evolution to the next level — a midfielder who could knit together the chaos of pressing football with moments of pure invention. But after nine appearances without a goal or assist, the narrative has shifted.
Wirtz’s adaptation to English football has been slower than expected. The pace, physicality, and constant transitions of the Premier League have tested him. The touches that used to glide through Bundesliga defences now often meet a tackle, and the space he used to operate in seems to vanish a second faster.
His absence against Chelsea isn’t just tactical — it’s symbolic. It suggests Slot has seen enough to know that Wirtz needs time, something Liverpool’s current situation doesn’t allow.
Slot’s Selection Sends a Message
Arne Slot has always been a coach who values control. His style blends elements of possession play with intense counter-pressing, but it relies heavily on balance — players understanding when to hold their position and when to break forward.
Against Chelsea, Slot reverted to a more trusted trio in midfield: Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, and Dominik Szoboszlai. It’s a combination that offers energy, work rate, and vertical passing — the kind of dynamic midfield unit that helped Liverpool win the title last season.
The decision to leave Wirtz out, then, wasn’t about punishment. It was about stability.
Liverpool have suffered back-to-back defeats — a 2-1 loss to Crystal Palace in the league followed by a painful Champions League setback against Galatasaray. The swagger that defined their early season has dimmed, replaced by hesitation and inconsistency.
Slot’s message was clear: no one is undroppable, not even the £116 million man.
Criticism from the Legends
Wirtz’s struggles have not gone unnoticed, especially among Liverpool’s old guard. Jamie Carragher, never shy about offering a strong opinion, delivered a pointed critique earlier this week.
“It sounds odd to say it,” Carragher said in The Telegraph, “but Wirtz was signed to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold — a No 10 to provide the passing range and creativity of a unique full-back. He hasn’t added what Liverpool were missing without Trent, and at the same time, the team’s intensity has dropped.”
Carragher’s assessment hits at the heart of the issue. Liverpool’s pressing game — that famous red swarm — hasn’t looked the same since Slot began reshaping the midfield to accommodate Wirtz.
It’s not that the German lacks effort or tactical awareness, but his natural instincts are to slow the game, to dictate tempo. Liverpool’s best moments, however, often come in chaos — the kind that demands lightning decisions and direct aggression.
Slot’s Dilemma: Persist or Pause?
The Liverpool boss now faces a conundrum familiar to every elite manager: stick with the project or prioritize short-term results.
As Carragher pointed out, “Slot has a dilemma. Does he regroup and revert temporarily to last season’s structure, or persist with his vision and accept some pain until it clicks?”
It’s a fair question. Slot has already shown that he’s not afraid to make big calls — from benching Darwin Núñez early in the season to promoting academy star Ben Doak into first-team training. But with Liverpool fighting to retain their Premier League crown, patience is a rare commodity.
Even for a manager who delivered the title in his debut season, the margin for error is razor thin.
Slot Defends His Signing

FBL-EUR-C1-GALATASARAY-LIVERPOOL
Despite the criticism, Slot continues to back his big-money midfielder. In his pre-match press conference, the Dutchman was calm and deliberate when asked whether Wirtz had lived up to expectations.
“We were very happy winning the league,” he said, “but we didn’t shut our eyes to how often we needed set pieces to win games. That’s not bad — Arsenal and Chelsea need them too — but we wanted more goals from open play.”
He went on to explain the thinking behind signing Wirtz.
“We brought in a very different midfielder from last season — Florian Wirtz — because we needed someone who can connect the lines, who can play that final pass. It’s a process. He’s a top player, and we know he will be important for us.”
Slot’s belief in the project remains intact. But even he knows that patience, in this league and this city, comes with an expiration date.
Chelsea’s Own Selection Surprises
Across the touchline, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca offered his own surprises. The Italian named 17-year-old Josh Acheampong in his starting XI and handed academy defender Landon Emenalo a spot on the bench. It’s a brave move for a manager who’s also under pressure, but it highlights the contrast between two clubs taking different approaches to transition.
Liverpool are evolving around stars; Chelsea are betting on youth.
A Defining Stretch Ahead
As Liverpool kicked off under the floodlights at Stamford Bridge, the storylines were already writing themselves. Could Slot’s men rediscover their spark without Wirtz? Could the German come off the bench to prove a point?
Whatever happens, this feels like a defining stretch for both player and manager.
Liverpool’s back-to-back defeats have opened the door for Arsenal to climb to the top of the table. The Reds can reclaim that position with a win, but another slip would amplify the noise — questions about recruitment, about Slot’s methods, about whether Wirtz was the right man for the job.
For Wirtz personally, it’s a moment to pause, reflect, and reset. The Premier League has humbled greater players than him, but the talent that made him one of Europe’s most coveted prospects hasn’t vanished. It just needs time — and perhaps, the right tactical environment — to shine.
The Bigger Picture
In the long run, Slot’s decision to bench Wirtz may prove to be the right call. The Premier League is littered with stories of foreign stars who needed half a season to find their rhythm. Kevin De Bruyne did. So did Bernardo Silva. Even Mohamed Salah had to leave England once before becoming unstoppable.
If Liverpool can manage results while Wirtz adjusts, Slot’s patience could pay dividends come spring. But for now, the headlines belong to the bench — and the unmissable sight of a £116 million superstar sitting quietly in a black tracksuit, waiting for his chance.
And maybe, just maybe, that’s where his Liverpool story truly begins.
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