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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Will Unwin

‘An artist who can be mean’: Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz has a dark side, insists Arne Slot

Arne Slot Florian Wirtz Liverpool the Premier League Atlético Madrid
Javi Galán of Atlético Madrid tugs at the shirt of Florian Wirtz of Liverpool
Javi Galán of Atlético Madrid tugs at the shirt of Florian Wirtz of Liverpool. ‘To say that he’s an artist doesn’t do him justice,’ says Arne Slot. Photograph: Phil Oldham/Shutterstock

Florian Wirtz has a darker side on the pitch that can help him thrive in the Premier League, according to Arne Slot. The German playmaker said recently he was still adapting to the intensity of English football but that the challenge of doing so was one of the key reasons behind his move from Bayer Leverkusen.

The 22-year-old is poised for his first taste of a Merseyside derby on Saturday when Everton visit Anfield and it will be an important test of Wirtz’s attributes. He has helped Liverpool start the season perfectly but is yet to contribute a goal or an assist. His performance in the 3-2 Champions League win over Atlético Madrid in midweek was his best, suggesting he is beginning to settle.

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