Arne Slot Reveals Liverpool’s Plan to Help Boost Florian Wirtz’s Form After Slow Liverpool Start Following £116m Transfer

Arne Slot Explains Liverpool’s New Approach to Revive Florian Wirtz After a Slow Start at Anfield Post-£116m Transfer

When Liverpool shattered their transfer record to bring Florian Wirtz to Anfield, the mood around the club was unmistakable. This was not just another signing; this was a statement. At £116 million, Wirtz arrived as the creative heartbeat of a new Liverpool era, a player expected to bridge the gap between Jurgen Klopp’s golden years and whatever future Arne Slot was about to build.

Yet football, as it so often does, refused to follow the script.

Four months into his Premier League life, Wirtz’s raw numbers tell a sobering story. No goals. Five assists. Plenty of neat touches, flashes of intelligence, and moments that hint at the player Liverpool thought they were buying — but not the decisive output that a nine-figure signing inevitably invites.

Now, as Christmas approaches and Liverpool look to climb back into the Champions League places, Slot has offered a revealing insight into how the club is quietly reshaping Wirtz’s adaptation process.

From Anfield Euphoria to Early Frustration

The excitement surrounding Wirtz’s arrival was immediate and intense. Fresh from a sensational season at Bayer Leverkusen — where he was central to their domestic dominance — the German playmaker spoke with the confidence of a footballer ready to conquer England.

“I would like to win everything every year,” Wirtz said upon arrival, words that landed warmly on Merseyside ears.

Supporters imagined him floating between the lines, unlocking defences, feeding Mohamed Salah and Darwin Núñez, and becoming the face of Liverpool’s next generation. For a club that had just reclaimed the Premier League title, Wirtz felt like the final piece of an already powerful puzzle.

But the Premier League has a habit of humbling even the most gifted imports.

A League That Demands More Than Technique

What became clear early on was not a lack of talent. Wirtz’s touch, vision and intelligence were obvious from his first appearances. What he struggled with was something less glamorous but brutally important: physicality.

Opposition midfielders targeted him. Full-backs stepped aggressively into his space. Duels he would glide through in the Bundesliga suddenly became battles he was losing. More than once, Wirtz found himself brushed off the ball before he could influence the game.

Slot noticed it. So did the coaching staff.

And instead of panicking or sheltering the 22-year-old, Liverpool went to work.

Liverpool Hatch a New Plan for Florian Wirtz

Liverpool v Manchester United – Premier League

Rather than overloading Wirtz tactically or demanding instant end product, Liverpool identified the problem at its root. The Premier League’s intensity was not something he could “think” his way through. It had to be lived — and physically prepared for.

The solution? A combination of targeted gym work, gradual increases in match minutes, and patience.

Liverpool placed Wirtz on a tailored weight-gain and strength programme, designed not to bulk him up artificially, but to help him cope with contact, repeated sprints, and 90-minute battles.

Slot explained that this approach was never about questioning Wirtz’s quality.

“On the ball, he was top from the start,” the Dutchman said. “That was clear immediately.”

What Slot wanted was resilience.

Small Moments, Big Signs

In recent weeks, Slot has noticed subtle but important changes. Not goals or assists, but moments that suggest Wirtz is beginning to feel the league rather than fear it.

Slot pointed to a moment against Brighton that encapsulated the shift. Wirtz took the ball under pressure, drove forward, felt a challenge coming — and instead of going down or recycling possession, he pushed the defender away and kept dribbling.

That moment mattered.

It led to a cut-back cross. Another duel win followed soon after, sparking a counter-attack finished by Mohamed Salah. These were not highlights for montages, but they were markers of progress.

“In those moments,” Slot said, “you see it gets easier for him.”

Why Gym Work Alone Isn’t Enough

Liverpool’s plan is not simply about adding muscle. Slot was clear that physical preparation without match exposure is pointless in the Premier League.

“If you are only in the gym, you cannot be prepared for 90 minutes of Premier League football,” he said.

This is where Slot’s philosophy becomes clear. Training is important, but nothing replicates the intensity of competitive matches. Wirtz needs minutes. Not perfect performances — minutes.

So Liverpool have resisted the temptation to protect him excessively. Instead, they are playing him through the adaptation phase, accepting mistakes as part of the process.

Not Just About Wirtz

Slot was keen to stress that Wirtz is not being singled out. The same approach is being applied across the squad.

Alexis Mac Allister. Conor Bradley. Joe Gomez. All have seen carefully managed increases in playing time combined with conditioning work. Liverpool’s rebuild under Slot is not just tactical — it is physical.

“A lot of them have grown in kilograms, in muscle,” Slot revealed.

This is a team being reshaped to survive and thrive in a league that punishes fragility.

The Mental Side of a £116m Price Tag

What often gets lost in discussions around Wirtz is the psychological weight of his transfer fee. Every misplaced pass is magnified. Every quiet game sparks questions. Confidence, especially for creative players, is a fragile thing.

Liverpool’s staff have been careful not to reduce Wirtz’s game to numbers. They know goals will come once comfort follows.

Slot’s comments suggest a manager who understands timing.

“It takes a lot of effort for him to play in this intensity,” he admitted. “But he is getting used to it.”

That sentence may matter more than any stat line.

Signs of a Turnaround?

Liverpool’s recent form offers cautious optimism. Unbeaten in six games, climbing to seventh in the table, and showing signs of tactical coherence after a turbulent autumn, Slot’s side appear to be stabilising.

Wirtz, while still waiting for his first goal, looks more involved, more assertive, and less overwhelmed. He is demanding the ball, riding challenges, and influencing transitions.

It’s not spectacular yet — but it’s real.

FBL-ENG-PR-LIVERPOOL-BRIGHTON

What Comes Next for Wirtz and Liverpool?

The immediate test comes away at Tottenham, followed by a home fixture against Wolves to close out 2025. These are the types of games where Wirtz can quietly build momentum — not necessarily by scoring, but by feeling indispensable.

Liverpool did not sign Florian Wirtz for three months of fireworks. They signed him for seasons.

Slot’s plan is clear: strengthen the body, expose the player to the league, and let confidence grow organically. It’s not glamorous, but it’s grounded.

And if Liverpool get it right, the frustration of this slow start may one day be remembered as nothing more than the price of long-term success.