The return of Mohamed Salah from the African Cup of Nations has left pundits struggling to agree on Arne Slot’s team selection in the coming weeks.
Salah has missed Liverpool’s last seven matches whilst leading Egypt to the semi-final of the AFCON, but his return to Merseyside could see him back in the Reds’ squad as early as Wednesday when Liverpool travel to Marseille in the Champions League.
In the Egyptian’s absence, Slot has played Dominik Szoboszlai, Federico Chiesa, Jeremie Frimpong in Salah’s wide-right position, with Florian Wirtz taking up the role — and scoring — in the 1-1 draw against Burnley on Saturday.
Wirtz has been in sensational form in recent weeks, scoring four goals in his last six appearances, having finally broken his duck in the 2-1 victory over Wolves at Anfield last month.
Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Gary Lineker declared the German international is “starting to look the player” fans and experts knew he is, but Alan Shearer couldn’t help but question Wirtz’s place in Slot’s XI once Mo Salah returns.
Fellow host Micah Richards firmly backed four-time golden boot winner Salah to immediately take his place on the right.
“Salah’s got to start. I know [Slot has] played Frimpong wide right, but Salah’s got to start. Without doubt. He’ll come back hungry, he did really well at AFCON.”
All-time Premier League goalscorer Shearer then doubled-down on his question over £116 million signing Wirtz.
“So, what happens with Wirtz? [Do you] play Wirtz, Salah, Ekitike and another one on the left-hand side?”
This time, Richards wasn’t so confident in his response.
“Maybe Wirtz off the left, but coming in? Ekitike has got to play. And they have to play Salah, they’ve actually missed him. Wirtz high left, with form they would play him rather than Gakpo.”
With Salah’s return Arne Slot is blessed with attacking options despite the recent injury to record signing Alexander Isak. Wirtz and Ekitike appear to be forming a formidable partnership and their current form suggests they’ll continue to start, but, as acknowledged in the closing comments by Lineker, the next few weeks will be very interesting as Slot wrestles with his ever-evolving XI.
