Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has made a big claim about what Arne Slot has told Florian Wirtz about his role at Liverpool.

The Reds have endured a tricky start to the season, recently going on an awful run in which they lost six games out of seven in all competitions.

Things have improved slightly in the last couple of games, however, with back-to-back wins over Aston Villa and Real Madrid, though the form of Wirtz might still be a concern.

The Germany international has not yet had the desired effect at Liverpool, looking a shadow of the player who looked so promising at Bayer Leverkusen.

Wenger has not held back with his criticism of Wirtz, saying he expects Slot has had to tell him to get used to playing out wide after using him centrally “destroyed” his midfield.

Arsene Wenger on Arne Slot and Florian Wirtz

Florian Wirtz in action for Liverpool (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

“When Wirtz had the choice between going to Bayern Munich or to Liverpool. He said to Liverpool, ‘I come to you if I play No.10, I do not want to play wide’. Liverpool to get him say, ‘okay’,” Wenger said during punditry duty on beIN Sports, as quoted by the Metro.

“So they start him, they destroyed their midfield because their midfield was Gravenberch, Mac Allister and Szoboszlai, to play Wirtz they took Szoboszlai out.

“What have they done against Aston Villa? They came back to their normal midfield of last year.

“Tonight (against Real Madrid) they play Wirtz but I am sure Wirtz will play on the side because the manager has said, ‘if you want to play again you have to play wide because I do not want to disturb the midfield’.

“So that will be interesting to see, but certainly he will have to play left where he played when he was at Leverkusen.”

Liverpool fans – what do you make of the midfield at the moment, and what is Wirtz’s best position in it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!