Slot said Wirtz would likely return next week, and he is managing Jeremie Frimpong’s minutes to balance recovery with the importance of upcoming fixtures. He praised Gakpo’s recent goal, noting it gave the team a cushion and that the striker’s confidence remains intact despite recent misses.
Slot criticised VAR for inconsistent decisions, citing the red‑card for Maxence Lacroix and the missed penalty for Marc Guehi as examples. He urged Liverpool to focus on their game rather than external calls.