Liverpool, Aug 15 (NationPress) Arne Slot has issued a challenge to Florian Wirtz to match the exceptional standards established by Mohamed Salah if he wishes to fulfill the expectations of Liverpool as their latest record acquisition.

Wirtz is poised to make his debut in the Premier League as the defending champions commence their season at home against Bournemouth this Friday. Although Slot commended the German international’s smooth transition—stating it “exceeded our expectations, and we had high hopes”—he recognized that the true evaluation of his influence will require time.

Liverpool considers the 22-year-old a transformative addition, akin to how Virgil van Dijk and Alisson were perceived during their initial periods at the club. Slot believes Wirtz can achieve a comparable level of impact by emulating Salah, who continues to set the standard at Anfield and holds the Premier League record for nine goals in seven opening day matches.

When asked if Wirtz was a signing aimed at elevating Liverpool to a higher level, Slot responded, “That is a question I can only address in the years to come. All our expectations are highly optimistic, but there is a distinction between expectation and realization.”

“Why are Messi, Ronaldo, and Mo held in such high regard? Because they maintain fitness. They are fit for every single match, and that’s something Florian must demonstrate in a league of our caliber. If he can maintain his fitness, our supporters will witness remarkable moments.”

Liverpool invested a club-record £100 million to acquire attacking midfielder Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, a fee that could escalate to a British record £116 million with add-ons. Despite the substantial cost and significant interest from Bayern Munich and Manchester City, Slot emphasizes that Wirtz’s signing isn’t merely a statement by the club.

“Liverpool has a history of such signings. We spent heavily on Alisson Becker and Virgil Van Dijk, and given inflation, this reflects the norm for a Liverpool signing. We typically make these investments. However, we also transfer players. When we make such acquisitions, we must also offload others,” he clarified.

“He presents a different profile compared to what we currently have. This was our intent—to introduce a distinct profile instead of replicating what we already possessed. It is encouraging that we could secure such a highly valued player, but Liverpool has consistently been able to attract players of this caliber.”