Liverpool Face Curtis Jones Conundrum as Premier League Interest Grows Liverpool are approaching a defining summer decision and Curtis Jones sits firmly at the centre of it. According to reporting from TEAMtalk, Newcastle United are closely monitoring the midfielder as they weigh up potential changes in their engine room, with Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa […]

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Mohamed Salah has been Liverpool's best forward for almost a decade but he is enduring his worst season since moving to Merseyside, and could leave this summer

20:05, 06 Feb 2026

Arne Slot and Mohamed Salah(Image: AFP or licensors)

Former Liverpool player Joe Cole believes that Mohamed Salah is a "problem" for the Reds – because too much of the team's play still goes through the Egyptian superstar.

Salah produced arguably his best-ever season last term as he drove Liverpool to the Premier League title, but this season has been his worst since he moved to Merseyside.

Hugo Ekitike has usurped him – for the time being, at least – as Liverpool's most reliable source of goals, but Cole thinks that Salah's long-standing status as the team's go-to man means that Ekitike does not yet enjoy the prominence in the team that he deserves.

READ MORE: Alexander Isak value plummets due to injury woes as Liverpool left waitingREAD MORE: Alexander Isak 'problem' message sent as Liverpool awaiting injury return

Cole believes that Ekitike would be one of the main beneficiaries were Salah to leave the club this summer.

"The first 30 minutes of the Newcastle game [last weekend], Liverpool were taken apart, it could’ve been 2-0," Cole said. "After that, they were sublime. I think the problem for Arne Slot is Mo Salah.

"Hugo Ekitike looks like he’s the type of player that would benefit from having a starring role, but when Mo plays, the ball goes to him all the time because he’s been so good.

"This will be the last three months at Liverpool for Mo Salah. I think he’ll leave at the end of the season and walk out with being an all-time great at the club.

"Going forward, Arne Slot is going to have to find somewhere to adjust the system of how his team play.”

Mohamed Salah has been tipped to leave Liverpool this summer(Image: Getty)

Cole recently identified Jarrod Bowen as a possible replacement for Salah, should the England international suffer relegation with West Ham this season.

“Jarrod is a wonderful footballer, a great character and a hero at West Ham. His name will stand shoulder to shoulder with all the great players that have played for the club,” Cole told Paddy Power.

“He’s loved at the club and he deserves, at the peak of his career, to win silverware and fight at the top level.

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“If West Ham were to get relegated, it won’t be anything to do with what Jarrod Bowen has done; he’s been a stalwart for the club. I think he’ll walk away and the majority of the fans will accept that.

“Who does he suit? Obviously, Liverpool, that slot [out wide] might come into play if Mo Salah leaves. He can go and play anywhere.”

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Florian Wirtz Finding His Rhythm at Liverpool Credit to Lewis Steele of The Daily Mail for the original reporting that sparked renewed focus on Florian Wirtz’s Anfield evolution. What we are witnessing now feels less like a sudden surge and more like the natural uncoiling of elite talent finally settling into its surroundings. “Florian Wirtz […]

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Liverpool are set to welcome a new addition to their scouting department after Belgian side KV Mechelen confirmed Laurens Paulussen has joined the Reds

Liverpool are set to welcome a new addition to their scouting department after Belgian side KV Mechelen confirmed Laurens Paulussen has joined the Reds

Liverpool goalkeeper Harvey Davies faces uncertain future after Crawley Town recall Liverpool’s loan strategy during the 2025/26 season has delivered mixed outcomes, with some young players progressing and others encountering roadblocks. One situation now drawing quiet attention involves Harvey Davies, the 22-year-old goalkeeper who has returned to Merseyside following an early recall from Crawley Town. […]

The post Liverpool star could still leave the club this month appeared first on anfieldindex.com.

Liverpool agreed a £125million deal to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle United on the final day of the summer transfer window, but the striker's value has now dropped

19:01, 06 Feb 2026

Alexander Isak of Liverpool(Image: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Alexander Isak's transfer value has taken a hit during his debut season at Liverpool, following his high-profile move from Newcastle United. The Reds were persistently linked with signing Isak for several months before finally securing a deal on the last day of the transfer window last September.

Liverpool struck a $170 million agreement with Newcastle to bring in Isak, making him the club's priciest signing and setting a new British transfer record.

In the same window, Liverpool also signed Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen in a deal that could potentially reach $158 million with add-ons, while Hugo Ekitike was also brought to Anfield for a fee that could escalate to $107.5 million.

READ MORE: Alexander Isak 'problem' message sent as Liverpool awaiting injury returnREAD MORE: Man City could be without 6 players for Liverpool game as Pep Guardiola issues update

Isak joined Liverpool without having played a single minute for Newcastle during pre-season and spent most of the first few months of the season working on his fitness.

After netting three goals in 16 appearances for Liverpool, Isak sustained an ankle injury and a fractured fibula during the victory over Tottenham Hotspur back in December.

The injury necessitated surgery for Isak, which is expected to keep the striker out of action for several months, and there is still no precise timeline for his return.

At the time of Isak's arrival, Transfermarkt valued the Swedish international at $165 million. However, that valuation has now fallen to $142 million.

Alexander Isak's injury woes have damaged his value(Image: Getty Images)

It's hardly surprising to witness Isak's market value decline this season, considering the striker has featured in just 16 matches since late May and has spent most of the period since either rehabilitating from injury or regaining match fitness.

Arne Slot addressed Isak's fitness situation last month, with the Liverpool head coach indicating that a return to the matchday squad isn't anticipated in the near future."He's [Isak] not even on the pitch yet," Slot said on January 30. "He's just out of his walker, so that tells you that we're not expecting him on the pitch today or tomorrow in terms of his recovery work. "That's going to take a while before he's back, as we knew."

Isak is expected to play a key role for Liverpool next season after he's finished fully recovering, but Slot has been warned that the Swede needs to fix his injury issues before he can be considered world-class.

Former Arsenal and Sweden midfielder Stefan Schwarz, via the Liverpool Echo., explained the role Isak can play for the Reds once he's fully back to his best.

READ MORE: Liverpool vs Man City referee was accused of 'hiding' behind VAR by Jurgen KloppREAD MORE: Arne Slot firing verdict issued in parliament as politician makes feelings clear

"First Alexander Isak has to come back from his injury and I think he will be a very good fit for Liverpool once he is fit," Schwarz said.

"He's a young player. He has a lot of qualities. He's very cool in the box, a very good finisher. He can produce magic in small areas and tight spaces. The only problem is his injury history.

"I think Liverpool will work with Isak to get the right balance so he doesn't miss out on too many games when he returns so he is a much better player for next season.

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"He is a top striker but when you don't have the continuity, and you are injured, it's very difficult to reach the top again.

"He isn't a world-class striker right now but he has the potential to be one."

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Szoboszlai Contract Talks Signal Liverpool’s Next Big Decision Dominik Szoboszlai’s Liverpool future has drifted into sharp focus, shaped by timing, leverage and the growing sense that he has become central to the club’s evolving identity. Credit to Hungarian outlet Blikk for first detailing the financial framework around talks, yet the wider story speaks to Liverpool’s […]

The post Report: Liverpool star demanding £300,000-per-week as contract dilemma grows appeared first on anfieldindex.com.

Liverpool urged to make move to sign Bundesliga forward Liverpool’s recruitment conversations rarely happen in a vacuum, and when a former striker who knows the club inside out starts talking about a specific profile of forward, it is worth listening. Emile Heskey has made no secret of his admiration for RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande, […]

The post Liverpool urged to sign talented 14-G/A Bundesliga forward appeared first on anfieldindex.com.

Arne Slot recently called for Liverpool to improve in both boxes and defeat at Man City demonstrated that shortcoming

Arne Slot recently called for Liverpool to improve in both boxes and defeat at Man City demonstrated that shortcoming

Virgil van Dijk has spoken out in defence of Arne Slot amid ongoing scrutiny, while a fee has finally been determined for Rio Ngumoha‘s transfer from Chelsea.

Virgil van Dijk makes Arne Slot stance clear

Slot has overseen only six wins in the last 19 Premier League games, with pressure and question marks remaining over his position, especially with Xabi Alonso’s recent availability.

In an interview with Gary Neville on Sky Sports, however, Van Dijk stressed that he knows Liverpool to be a club that trusts the process, and that Slot “deserves” the chance to turn it around.

“We are in a process of things and I feel like it just takes time,” Van Dijk started. “I don’t think Liverpool, from what I know Liverpool as, is a club of making rash decisions and trusting the process.

“But I know how the world works and the pressure that managers are under and [how they] are held accountable and responsible for the results that we are getting.

“I still feel like it’s a process and he deserves, in my eyes, that respect and chance to make sure this process ends in a positive way. We just have to keep going.”

The captain was eager to differentiate criticism and disrespect, acknowledging that the former is “well deserved because of the way we have been playing at times.”

You suspect the noise will only quieten if a successful turnaround is overseen by Slot, but there is no denying the club finds itself at a key juncture at the end of the season.

Liverpool FC News: Rio Ngumoha fee decided, academy plans & Premier League squad submitted

• A tribunal has decided Liverpool will pay up to £6.8 million to Chelsea for Rio Ngumoha, which includes a 20 percent sell-on clause – you’d say it’s a decent deal for both clubs

• Plans for the £20 redevelopment of the club’s academy have been unveiled – we have all the images and information for you here – and it includes an impressive new dome and 500-seat stand

• Liverpool added goalkeeper Harvey Davies and left-back Owen Beck to their Premier League squad for the second half of the season, with Fabian Mrozek removed ahead of a loan-to-buy move

• As for the Champions League squad for the knockout stages, that appears unchanged after no new January additions – Calvin Ramsay could not be added as another non-homegrown player would have been forced to drop out

• Slot confirmed Liverpool did try to strengthen their defence, with interest in a loan deal for defender Lutsharel Geertruida, but he simply “wasn’t available”. We can only hope for no more injuries…

Who should start at right-back vs. Man City?

Dominik Szoboszlai is Arne Slot‘s favourite option in the absence of his senior right-backs, but should another player be ranked No. 1? See our rankings for City’s visit in the piece below!

Football News: Ox moves closer to Celtic transfer & James Milner to equal Premier League record

• Still just 32, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has reached a verbal agreement with Celtic and is due to sign a six-month deal, with his medical scheduled on Saturday. Hopefully he gets consistent minutes! (The Athletic)

• Another ex-Red, James Milner, could equal the Premier League appearance record if he features for Brighton this weekend; he would match former teammate Gareth Barry’s 653 games. He’s close to having played more seasons than I’ve been alive!

• Former Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran is expected to join his sixth club at just 22 after terminating his loan at Fenerbahce ahead of joining Zenit St Petersburg. He must live out of a suitcase (Mail)

• Cristiano Ronaldo‘s standoff with the PIF continues as he has been left out of Al Nassr’s match on Friday. He feels the level of ambition is not equal among their clubs, not really surprising that, is it?

Liverpool FC: On this day

Luis Diaz made his Liverpool debut on this day in 2022 as the Reds beat Cardiff 3-1 at Anfield.

Having beaten Tottenham to his signature and signed Diaz for an initial £37.5 million from Porto, Diaz made his first Reds appearance in an FA Cup fourth-round tie against Cardiff.

In a game also marked by Harvey Elliott‘s goal for Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp‘s side won 3-1 with the other goals coming from Diogo Jota and Takumi Minamino.

Liverpool went on to win the competition for the first time in 16 years, Diaz growing into the season and starting both the semi-final and final against Man City and Chelsea, respectively.

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Hugo Ekitike really finding momentum at Liverpool Liverpool have endured a season that has rarely flowed as smoothly as their supporters might expect, even under a head coach who delivered the Premier League title in his first year. Questions have lingered around consistency and control, but in the middle of that uncertainty, Ekitike has quietly […]

The post Hugo Ekitike compared to Liverpool legend by former star appeared first on anfieldindex.com.

Liverpool have endured a season that has rarely flowed as smoothly as their supporters might expect, even under a head coach who delivered the Premier League title in his first year. Questions have lingered around consistency and control, but in the middle of that uncertainty, Ekitike has quietly become a reference point for optimism.

Since arriving from Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer, the French forward has looked increasingly comfortable leading the line. Fifteen goals in all competitions underline that progress, but the numbers only tell part of the story. His growing understanding with Florian Wirtz has sharpened Liverpool’s attacking patterns, offering depth runs and transitional threat that had been missing for spells earlier in the campaign.

That was on clear display in the 4-1 win over Newcastle United, when Ekitike struck twice in the first half. Those goals did not merely put Liverpool in control of the match, they illustrated a striker learning how to dominate defenders with timing, movement and composure.

Crouch perspective from experience

When Peter Crouch speaks about centre forwards, it comes from lived experience. On his podcast, he reflected on Ekitike’s second goal against Newcastle, and the memory it triggered was a powerful one.

He said: “Do you know what Ekitike’s second goal reminded me of? When he burst past him?

“Reminded me of peak Torres at Anfield. You know, like where he slows people down and then bursts like, he kind of slowed him.

“I remember him doing one to Rio [Ferdinand], a couple of times actually, where he slowed him down and then bang gone with the pace and then outside the right foot, reminded me of him.”

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It was not flattery for the sake of it. Crouch focused on a specific striker’s skill, the ability to manipulate a defender’s balance before accelerating into space, a trait that separates good forwards from elite ones.

Torres memory that still resonates

For Liverpool fans of a certain era, the image of Fernando Torres tormenting Manchester United’s defence remains vivid. His duels with Rio Ferdinand were a showcase of pace married to intelligence. Torres did not simply outrun defenders, he lulled them into false security before striking.

That is the parallel being drawn here. Ekitike’s goal against Newcastle showed patience, deception and a sudden change of speed, qualities that defined Torres at his peak. During his Liverpool career, Torres scored three times in six matches against Manchester United, moments that helped shape his legend on Merseyside.

Slot trust and Liverpool direction

Under Arne Slot, Liverpool have asked their forwards to be flexible and brave, especially in transition. Ekitike fits that brief. His development suggests a striker growing into responsibility rather than shrinking under expectation.

Comparisons should always be handled carefully, yet they often reveal more about potential than pressure. If Ekitike continues on this trajectory, Liverpool may have found not just a goalscorer, but a forward capable of defining big moments, the kind that linger long after the final whistle.

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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has no doubt Erling Haaland is the best striker in the world.

The Norway international is going through an unusually quiet spell in front of goal, scoring just two in his last 12 appearances.

That contrasts sharply with his form earlier in the campaign, which saw him net 25 times in his previous 23 games.

“Erling is the best striker in the world,” Guardiola said pointedly when asked about his star forward at a press conference to preview Sunday’s Premier League trip to Liverpool.

Erling Haaland vs. Hugo Ekitike Form Guide: Last 10 Starts
Player Goals Assists Avg. FotMob Rating Erling Haaland (Man City) 2 1 7.05 Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool) 9 2 7.87 Analysis: While Haaland has hit a remarkable drop in form in recent months, Ekitike has found real consistency up front for Liverpool – his higher FotMob average rating tells the true story of his imporance.

Haaland started on the bench in the second leg of City’s Carabao Cup semi-final against Newcastle on Wednesday.

The feeling was Guardiola was resting the 25-year-old ahead of the crucial Anfield encounter but Omar Marmoush took his chance to shine in his place, scoring twice.

Asked if Haaland would come back into the side, Guardiola said: “I don’t know, we’ll decide tomorrow, but I always say Erling is the best.”

New signing Marc Guehi is set to return to the City side having been ineligible to feature in midweek.

The England centre-back, who moved to the Etihad Stadium from Crystal Palace for £20 million last month, had been close to joining Liverpool last summer before a move collapsed on deadline day.

Guardiola is pleased City ultimately benefited from that failed transfer.

He said: “You can smell it – he’ll be a great, great signing for City for the next five, six, seven, eight years. Top.

“It’s the skills, the mentality, the professionalism, the way he leads. Many of the things you need to be a good, good central defender.”

Guardiola voiced his frustration in midweek that Guehi cannot play in the Carabao Cup final but accepts the rule is not going to be changed.

He said: “I know the rules are the rules – and I understand. I don’t understand why Antoine [Semenyo] can play but Marc can’t. But there’s a rule and it’s OK. We can agree to disagree.”

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Second-placed City have dropped points in five of their last six Premier League games and can afford few further slip-ups if they are to keep the pressure on leaders Arsenal.

They face a Liverpool side this weekend who have failed to match the standards they set in winning title last season, but Guardiola says they are still a force to be reckoned with.

He said: “They remain an exceptional team with a top-class manager, no doubt. The moments are the moments, the seasons are the seasons.

“They’ve rebuilt the squad, not for one season, but for many years, so they always remain a good team.”

Friday marked the third anniversary of the day City were hit with more than 100 charges of breaches of the Premier League‘s financial regulations. The matter remains unresolved.

Guardiola said: “It’s not in my hands. We await the resolution.”

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Liverpool scrutiny reaches boiling point Liverpool do not do quiet crises. When results dip, the noise grows quickly, and this season the volume has been impossible to ignore. Sitting sixth in the Premier League and having won just six of their last 19 league games, Liverpool have drifted from contenders to question mark. The disappointment […]

The post Virgil van Dijk provides verdict on Arne Slot after Liverpool’s struggles appeared first on anfieldindex.com.

Liverpool do not do quiet crises. When results dip, the noise grows quickly, and this season the volume has been impossible to ignore. Sitting sixth in the Premier League and having won just six of their last 19 league games, Liverpool have drifted from contenders to question mark. The disappointment has sharpened the focus on Arne Slot, a manager who only recently delivered a Premier League title in his first season and now finds himself navigating a very different mood.

Virgil van Dijk, speaking to Gary Neville for Sky Sports, did not attempt to dress it up. “The criticism we are getting this season is deserved.” It was a line that carried both honesty and authority, the voice of a captain who understands standards and consequences at a club like Liverpool.

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Van Dijk sets clear boundaries

Yet Van Dijk was careful to draw a line, and it mattered. “But you have criticism and you have disrespect.” In that distinction sits the wider issue around Liverpool right now. Analysis of performances is fair game. Questioning intensity, structure, or decision making comes with the territory. What the defender was pushing back against was the rush to personalise failure, to frame a difficult campaign as proof that Slot is suddenly the wrong man for the job.

Liverpool have looked short of confidence and cohesion, particularly away from home, where leads have been surrendered and games have slipped. That feeds frustration, and frustration often looks for a single target. Van Dijk’s point was that this is not how Liverpool traditionally operate.

Arne Slot and institutional patience

“I don’t think Liverpool is a club that makes rash decisions. He [Slot] deserves respect and the chance to make it right.” The words were deliberate. Slot arrived with a clear tactical identity and immediate success, and one poor season does not erase that foundation. Liverpool’s history underlines this. Stability has usually been rewarded, panic rarely has.

Slot’s challenge now is as much psychological as tactical. Injuries, form dips and the weight of expectation have combined into a season that never quite caught fire. Yet Liverpool remain within touching distance of the Champions League places, and the margin between sixth and fourth is hardly insurmountable.

Photo: IMAGO Leadership when Liverpool wobble

Van Dijk’s intervention matters because it signals unity at a time when Liverpool could easily splinter. Captains speak when silence becomes dangerous, and this was one of those moments. The message was simple. Accountability is accepted, standards remain high, but respect is non negotiable.

Liverpool have rebuilt before, often in public and under pressure. Whether this season becomes a footnote or a turning point depends on what follows. For now, Van Dijk has framed the debate in the right place, demanding perspective in a city that rarely lacks passion.

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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola remained coy on whether he'll start Erling Haaland against Liverpool and still hails the Reds as an 'exceptional team'.

Arne Slot has made two changes to the Starting XI vs. Newcastle, with Milos Kerkez and Ibrahima Konate coming back in the defence. Curtis Jones is back on the bench after recovering from an illness that caused him to miss the match midweek.

Liverpool Confirmed Starting XI

Starters: Alisson, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez, Wirtz, Szoboszlai, MacAllister, Salah, Gakpo, Ekitake, Gravenberch

Subs: Mamardashvili, Endo, Chiesa, Jones, Robertson, Nyoni, Ramsay, Nallo, Ngumoha

Newcastle Confirmed Lineup

Starters: Pope, Trippier, Hall, Tonali, Gordon, Barnes, Thiaw, Elanga, Willock, Burn, Ramsey

The Verdict

This is pretty much the lineup that everyone expected. I would have liked to see Andy Robertson get consecutive starts, but he is also a great option coming off the bench. With all the injuries, this is a solid lineup.

Where To Watch Match InfoUK BroadcastUS BroadcastCanada BroadcastKick-off3:00 PM GMT 8:00  PM ET 8:00 PM ETTV ChannelTNT SportsNBCFuboTVLive StreamDiscovery +Paramount+FuboTV Canada

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In what has been a disastrous Premier League title defence, it is the exciting attacking partnership that has developed between Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz that gives Liverpool hope their season can still be rescued.

Heading into their Super Sunday clash with Man City at Anfield, Arne Slot's side remain infuriatingly inconsistent as they still struggle to find their identity, capable of producing an away-day masterclass at the Stade Velodrome a fortnight ago, only to ship three goals at midtable Bournemouth just days later to drop out of the top four.

However, amid the gloom that has seen the champions already lose ten times in total so far this campaign, more than in the whole of last season, the recent form of two of their big-money summer signings means all is not lost for Slot and his players.

When Liverpool fell behind at home to Newcastle United last Saturday night, an audible groan could be heard around Anfield as the Reds faithful thought, 'Oh no, not again!'

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Just a few minutes later, though, and the hosts were back on level terms thanks to some sumptuous approach play and quick feet in a tight space from Wirtz, showing exactly why he was brought to the club, followed by a lethal finish arrowed into the bottom corner by Ekitike to help start the comeback.

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That meant the two players have now combined for six goals in all competitions so far this season, more than any other Premier League pairing, assisting three goals each, five of which have come since the end of December as their understanding together continues to grow.

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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Liverpool’s match against Newcastle in the Premier League.

And it is a partnership that going forward, excites Sky Sports pundit and former Liverpool captain Jamie Carragher.

"It's exciting because you are looking to the future of what the team can be like," he said on Monday Night Football. "Eventually it has to move on from [Mohamed] Salah and [Virgil] van Dijk.

"For the manager, last week we spoke about hope - it gives you hope seeing the new signings playing as they are.

Image: Ekitike and Wirtz have formed a brilliant on-field partnership (AP Photo/Jon Super)

"I think both like to play in the left channel, but when you think why you buy players like Wirtz, deep blocks - you need a player with magic feet."

Image: Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike's heat maps in the Premier League this season

It has taken time though for Ekitike and Wirtz to gel together, partly because the playmaker, brought to the club in part to help unpick Slot's much-loved low blocks, initially struggled to adapt to the physical demands of the Premier League following his then British-record £116m move from Bayer Leverkusen in June.

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The duo may have taken only four minutes of their competitive debut to combine for the opener in August's Community Shield loss to Crystal Palace, linking up nicely in the lefthand channel of Wembley's vast acres, an area of the pitch both love to occupy.

Image: Ekitike and Wirtz linked up well when they first appeared together in Liverpool's Community Shield loss to Palace in Aug

But while Ekitike, 23, then hit the ground running, scoring three more times, as well as contributing an assist, in his next five league matches, incredibly Wirtz had to wait until Liverpool's win against bottom-of-the-table Wolverhampton Wanderers on December 27 to score his first goal for the club.

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Florian Wirtz reacts to scoring his first goal for Liverpool against Wolves.

The real low point for Wirtz came in November against Sunday's opponents as Liverpool produced an anaemic display to go down 3-0 at the Etihad, with the German, who was brought to the club to help make them more dynamic in attack, anonymous throughout.

"I thought Wirtz in particular - it was a really bad day for him," said Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville on his podcast.

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Gary Neville offers his take on Florian Wirtz following Liverpool's defeat to Man City and thinks the 22 year-old's performances have become a 'problem'

"We've been tip toeing around him haven't we, for a few months, around the fact that he's young, coming to a new country. But he's £120m, you're going to have to stand up soon.

"He's been mauled out there today by [Matheus] Nunes and by others. He's been chucked around the pitch and didn't deliver in the quality side of things either. His performance was a real worry.

"Wirtz is a problem, let's call it what it is. It's an issue. He's £120m and he looked like a little boy out there."

Wirtz is a problem, let's call it what it is. It's an issue. He's £120m and he looked like a little boy out there. Gary Neville after Liverpool's 3-0 loss at Man City in Nov

Ekitike, meanwhile, was by now also going through his own struggles in front of goal having not scored in the league since September, but since that dark winter's afternoon in Manchester, the duo have gradually begun to show why the club were prepared to invest just shy of £200m to bring them to Anfield last summer.

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Wirtz, 22, has bulked up, doing more work in the gym to cope with the physicality of the Premier League that often shocks new signings from abroad, while the more he played, the better his understanding became with his team-mates.

"First and foremost, credit to the player because he has to do the work," said Slot ahead of his side's trip to City this weekend.

Sunday 8th February 4:00pm Kick off 4:30pm

"Not only on the pitch but also in the gym. Then as a manager, even if he is struggling a little bit at the start, you have to keep playing him because that is the only way he can improve. He is an example of that.

"I think he didn't improve that much on the ball because from the start he was special maybe now he has a better connection with his team-mates because they've played more and more together. Off the ball is where I see the biggest improvement with him, and some others, and that combination makes you ready for the Premier League."

However, it is the on-field chemistry between Ekitike and Wirtz, who have also formed a strong bond off the pitch having both played in the Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankfurt and Leverkusen respectively prior to moving to Anfield, that has really begun to flourish of late.

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Clinton Morrison analyses Liverpool's dominant 3-0 victory over Marseille away from home in the Champions League

"He is just unbelievable," said Wirtz of Ekitike after his eye-catching double helped the champions return to winning ways in the league last weekend, while also taking his own tally to an impressive 15 goals in all competitions so far this season.

"You can see him today again two fantastic goals, and it is just fun to play with him on the pitch. Happy I could assist him again today after many assists from him to me."

Such has been Ekitike's impact in his debut campaign in England that Steven Gerrard has even likened him to former Liverpool striker Fernando Torres, who scored 81 goals in 142 games for the club between 2007 and 2011.

"He reminds me of Torres, this player, every time I watch him," the Liverpool great told TNT Sports. "He's scoring similar types of goals, where if you give him space in the channel, he'll run it, he's too quick, you can't catch him and he's deadly."

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Jamie Carragher lauded Hugo Ekitike's second goal against Newcastle at Anfield and suggested that he's a better player than Fernando Torres.

Carra agrees, saying: "I think Ekitike is a better player than Torres. He may not get as many goals, but Torres was made by Gerrard at Liverpool. Ekitike wont reply on Wirtz as much, but, if the combination keeps going, he could get the goals Torres got."

As for Wirtz, it is now four in his last seven top-flight matches having had to wait to the midway point of the season to register his first league goal for Liverpool and Carragher hopes he can now take that form with him into Sunday's huge clash against City.

"Wirtz is getting better all the time," he said. "Eventually, the mantle has to be passed on, and there is no doubt the lad has real quality.

Wirtz has gone from a little boy and it's a great opportunity to shove those words down Neville's throat. Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher

"The Premier League has lost Kevin De Bruyne, [but] we have gained Wirtz. We are talking about special players coming into our league. I have watched him a lot and thought about whether he can get to De Bruyne's level. When I watch Wirtz, I think he could be lovely on the eye like David Silva, but he has almost a bit of both.

"I'm not sure if he will get the numbers De Bruyne got. But, talking about a slow start, one of the games was City away and Gary Neville said he looked like a boy out there - now he has City at Anfield.

"He is confident. He has gone from a little boy, and it's a great opportunity to shove those words down Neville's throat."

And while Liverpool have, rightly, been accused of being boring to watch this season, with these two now bringing some much-needed dynamism to their previously stilted attack, the future may not be so downbeat after all.

Watch Liverpool vs Man City live on Sky Sports on Sunday from 4pm; kick-off 4.30pm

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