Arne Slot fights back against Florian Wirtz 'dropped' claims

Liverpool completed a decisive 2-1 derby day win against Everton at Anfield on Saturday.

Ryan Gravenberch fired in a world-class effort to put the hosts 1-0 up before new £69m signing Hugo Ekitike added a second.

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Although Everton ate into Liverpool’s lead in the second half - with Idrissa Gana Gueye halving the deficit - David Moyes’ side came nowhere close to securing a point.

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Instead the Reds held off their local rivals to make it five wins out of five in the Premier League and set a challenge to their so-called title rivals.

Wirtz rotated for Everton clash

One talking point from the match arose pre-game when Arne Slot named a lineup without Florian Wirtz included.

The No7 joined Liverpool for £116m from Bayer Leverkusen - a British record deal - and had been a fixture during the opening matches of the season.

However Arne Slot opted to utilise his Premier League title-winning midfield trio of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai from the outset.

Wirtz, 22, had to settle for a place on the bench - appearing for the final 30 minutes in a tidy cameo.

Liverpool's third game in seven days

Certain rival fans have taken the opportunity to lay the boot into Wirtz and his so-called lack of productivity. Those criticisms ignore the central role Wirtz has played in Liverpool’s attack - with his game against Atletico Madrid in midweek his best to date.

There is no question that Wirtz is growing into his No7 role - and his demotion to the bench on Saturday had nothing to do with form.

Instead, Arne Slot disclosed that Liverpool’s hectic schedule - comprising matches against Burnley last Sunday, Atletico in the Champions League on Wednesday and Everton on Saturday - necessitated some changes.

© IMAGO - Arne Slot Liverpool

Arne Slot references hectic period

Liverpool are going to be fighting on four fronts these season and with an increased set of options in attack, the head coach needs to keep his best players as fresh as possible.

“Like I said it’s three games in seven days, not in eight days, this is Sunday, Wednesday then Saturday,” he told TNT Sports.

“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.”