Liverpool: Rooney gives reason for Wirtz benching vs Everton; Slot claims two factors behind decision
Wayne Rooney has explained why he thinks Florian Wirtz has been left out of Liverpool’s starting XI for the Merseyside derby against Everton.
Wirtz is yet to hit the ground running following his £116m summer move from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool.
It’s taking time for the Germany international to settle, while Liverpool are getting used to having a natural No.10 in their side.
The Reds newbie was ineffective in physical matches against Arsenal and Newcastle United, so it’s a sensible decision from Slot to give him a rest against Everton.
Speaking pre-match, Rooney said he thinks Wirtz has been dropped because Slot has “shown a lot of respect to Everton”.
“I think Moyes has gone there and thinks he can get something from the game. Everton have to be stubborn, hard to beat and with those attacking players go on and try and nick something,” Rooney said.
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“I think Arne Slot has showed a lot of respect to Everton with his lineup, leaving Wirtz out and having Szoboszlai almost in the ten and helping out in the midfield.
“That is a lot of credit to Moyes and how they have started the season.”
Slot, meanwhile, claims Wirtz has been omitted from Liverpool’s first XI as he has been rotated, while Dominic Szoboszlai is “more used to the intensity of the Premier League”.
“The same thinking as Mac Allister on the bench against Atletico,” Slot said when asked about leaving Wirtz out of Liverpool’s starting XI.
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“Like I said it’s three games in seven days, not in eight days, this is Sunday, Wednesday then Saturday. This is one of the most intense games that we have to play, so we try to manage it during Burnley and Atletico.
“For today I think Szoboszlai, who played both of those games as well, is more used to the intensity of the Premier League and this programme than Florian is coming from Germany.
“So it’s only to do with so many games in limited time. I think he will feature, but not from the start.”
On not starting Alexander Isak, Slot added: “Normally when you don’t play a player I don’t think there is any player that says, ‘Ok I understand your decision’, ok maybe they understand it but they may have made a different one themselves.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if you ask him today that he would say it’s the best choice for him not to start, but of course it is about match fitness. It was good to see him play for an hour in midweek, let’s see how many minutes he can make today.”
