WIRTZ INJURY UPDATE: WHY ARNE SLOT ISN'T PANICKING AFTER FLORIAN WIRTZ'S WARM-UP BACK SCARE
Is Wirtz's injury serious? Analyse Mac Allister's clutch winner, Curtis Jones' cameo, and Liverpool's fight for a top-four spot.
Arne Slot says Florian Wirtz’s injury isn’t anything serious, even though he had to pull out of Liverpool's starting lineup during the warm-up before their 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest. Curtis Jones stepped in for Wirtz, and Liverpool grabbed a dramatic win with a goal deep into stoppage time.
Wirtz was set to start at the City Ground, but something in his back flared up during the warm-up, and he couldn’t go. Slot didn’t want to risk him. After the match, Slot explained, “We don’t think it’s serious, but he felt his back too much to start. He wasn’t close to 100 per cent. I think now, after being in this league for a while, he gets that you can’t play here unless you’re fully fit. We hope he’ll be back next week, but you never really know.”
So, Jones slotted in, and Liverpool scraped out a win thanks to Alexis Mac Allister’s goal right at the end. That winner was even more impressive because Mac Allister had just had a goal ruled out five minutes earlier, but he kept going and found the net. Despite the late drama, Mac Allister wasn’t too pleased with the overall performance. Liverpool is still sitting sixth, behind Chelsea only on goal difference, and if Manchester United beats Everton on Monday, they’ll be three points ahead.
Mac Allister said, “Honestly, mixed feelings. Scoring and winning always feel good, so in that sense, it’s a good day. But we didn’t play well. There’s a lot we need to fix, but winning always makes things easier.”
About the disallowed goal, he added, “I felt like I’d get another chance, even before the throw-in. I told Hugo Ekitike, ‘This is our moment.’ I don’t remember if it was that play or the next, but I got another shot, and I’m glad it went in.”
He kept going: “We’ll look back at the game this week, but the first half was just bad. Positioning, intensity, pressing – it just wasn’t there. Maybe the only thing we did well was defending our box and blocking some shots. But overall, it wasn’t up to our standards. The second half was a bit better, not great, but we created some chances, and the main thing is we got the win.”
Slot didn’t hold back at halftime. He told the team straight up that it was Liverpool’s worst half under him so far. “That first half was the worst we’ve played,” Slot said. “But we defended our box really well, so that’s why it stayed 0-0. Forest were the better team; they pushed us back, but our defending inside the box kept us in it. We had to deal with a lot of set pieces, especially early on, so if we can take that mentality and use it all over the pitch and just keep the ball better and not lose it every time, these players can do more.”
Slot tried to fire the team up at halftime, telling them there’s no way they could be out of energy already, especially compared to Forest, who had played a tough away match on Thursday. He reminded them about the second half against Manchester City, when they managed to turn things around after a poor first half. It worked well enough; Liverpool didn’t play great, but they found a way to win.
ANDY ROBERTSON CONFIRMS LIVERPOOL EXIT; FOUR EUROPEAN GIANTS BATTLE FOR HIS SIGNATURE
Andy Robertson confirms he is leaving Liverpool. Explore his 4 potential moves to Napoli, Juventus, Spurs, or Atletico.
Andy Robertson has confirmed he’s leaving Liverpool at the end of the season, bringing his nine-year run at Anfield to a close. The 32-year-old left-back will walk away as a free agent, and he’s not short of suitors; four clubs are reportedly keen to sign him.
Robertson’s time at Liverpool has been loaded with silverware: two Premier League titles, a Champions League, two League Cups, an FA Cup, plus the Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and Community Shield. But things have changed for him recently. Since Liverpool signed Milos Kerkez, Robertson has struggled to get consistent minutes and has started only 15 games this season. He wanted a move over the winter but stayed put when Liverpool couldn’t find his replacement. Now, with an exit set in stone, the hunt for someplace he can play regularly is on.
Tottenham Hotspur was close to a deal in January. Robertson had reportedly agreed to terms, but Liverpool pulled the plug when they couldn’t bring in someone new. If Spurs want him this summer, they’ll have to convince him their future is stable. Relegation shouldn’t even be a possibility, but this season’s been a mess for them. If they do go down, there’s almost no chance Robertson would agree to play in the Championship.
Atletico Madrid is another option. They already tried to get Robertson last summer, probably seeing him as a perfect player for Diego Simeone’s tough, aggressive style. Atletico looks set for another season in the Champions League, and after beating Barcelona 2-0 at Camp Nou in the quarters, they’ve shown they can go deep. If Robertson wants to keep chasing big European nights, Madrid might be calling.
Juventus have their eye on him, too. The club has a long history of snapping up seasoned players on free transfers, and Robertson fits the mould. Juve is fighting just to get back into the Champions League these days, but its leadership could help lift the mood and the results in Turin. Andrea Cambiaso is their starter at left-back right now, but adding Robertson’s experience wouldn’t hurt on the pitch or in the dressing room.
Finally, there’s Napoli. They’re much closer to the title fight in Serie A, closing the gap on Inter Milan and riding a wave of five straight wins. Antonio Conte would likely see Robertson as a great option for his back-five system. The Scot has played as a wing-back and on the left side of a back three for both Liverpool and Scotland, so the fit makes sense. Plus, Napoli would give him another shot at winning trophies in a city that lives for football.
So, Robertson’s next move isn’t set yet, but wherever he goes, he brings a wealth of experience and a hunger to play every week. He’s not done winning.
ALAN SHEARER DEMANDS CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TROPHY FOR ARNE SLOT TO KEEP JOB
Arne Slot under fire! See the Shearer vs Richards debate on The Rest Is Football podcast about Liverpool’s future.
Alan Shearer thinks Arne Slot needs to actually win the Champions League if he wants to stay in charge at Liverpool, but Micah Richards sees things differently. He says Slot deserves another season, no matter what happens.
Right now, Slot’s under real pressure. Liverpool’s Premier League title defence has been a mess. They got humiliated in the FA Cup, losing 4-0 to Manchester City, and things aren’t looking any better as they head to France to face PSG in the Champions League quarter-final. If they don’t win in Europe, they probably miss out on the Champions League next season at least, that’s how Shearer sees it, since their league form has been awful.
On The Rest is Football podcast, Shearer was blunt: “It’s crazy, especially after last season and all the money they’ve spent. It just hasn’t worked; they’re all over the place, so inconsistent. He has to win the Champions League. I’m not even sure finishing top five will be enough, and it’s just sad seeing how things have gone at Liverpool.”
Back in January, Shearer said he expected Slot to get sacked if he didn’t secure Champions League football for next year. There’s a small lifeline: the Premier League might get an extra Champions League spot through the coefficient rankings, but that’s not confirmed yet.
If that happens, fifth place gets you in. Liverpool is fifth right now, but the race is tight. Only five points separate them from ninth-place Fulham, and teams like Chelsea, Brentford, and Everton are waiting for any slip-ups, according to the Liverpool Echo.
Shearer’s convinced Slot is in trouble if he misses out on the top European competition. Richards, though, thinks the Dutchman’s earned more patience, especially after winning the league just last season.
Richards said, “I’d give him another season. I hate calling it a transition, and yeah, he’s spent a lot of money, but their main striker’s been out injured, there’s been tragedy in the club, the whole contract saga with Salah has been one thing after another. Give him one more pre-season. If things aren’t fixed by Christmas, then fine, make the change. Let’s not forget, he just won the Premier League.”
Shearer wasn’t buying it. He cut in: “That’s fine, but after winning the league, they’re miles off this season, even after all that spending. I hear what you’re saying about bad luck and circumstances, but this is Liverpool. They’re expected to win, and they’ve spent a fortune. They might not even finish in the top five, that’s why he has to win the Champions League.”
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