Liverpool news: Salah criticised over Wirtz situation as Isak faces consequences after reaching new low
Liverpool will look to revive their Premier League title defence when they face Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday. Despite a promising start to the season, the Reds faltered before the international break, suffering consecutive defeats to Crystal Palace and Chelsea.
Manager Arne Slot will be hoping his returning international players come back fit as preparations intensify for the crucial clash. However, the break hasn’t been ideal for everyone — particularly for Alexander Isak, who endured a difficult spell with Sweden.
Meanwhile, Florian Wirtz has been at the centre of debate over his slow start to life at Liverpool, with German media coming to his defence. Outlets like SportBILD have argued that Wirtz has been unfairly criticised, even blaming Mohamed Salah’s missed chances — including one against Chelsea — for distorting the midfielder’s numbers. They insist that Wirtz’s creativity has gone unnoticed and that his teammates haven’t helped him showcase his full potential.
Some pundits have even accused former Manchester United legends Gary Neville and Wayne Rooney of bias against Wirtz. Former Bundesliga striker Jan Åge Fjørtoft joined the conversation, joking that critics might as well blame Wirtz for The Beatles’ breakup, adding that Liverpool’s £80m signing should be viewed as a long-term project rather than an instant success.
As for Isak, his international break worsened Sweden’s World Cup hopes. Despite captaining his side against Switzerland, he failed to make an impact in back-to-back defeats to Switzerland and Kosovo, managing only two shots in total. The 26-year-old admitted the entire squad must take responsibility, acknowledging his own need to improve.
Following the loss to Kosovo, Sweden dismissed manager Jon Dahl Tomasson. Now bottom of their group with just one point, the Swedes are clinging to faint hopes of reaching the World Cup through a potential Nations League play
off spot.