Gary Lineker backs Arne Slot’s choice to rest Liverpool star
Gary Lineker publicly supported Arne Slot’s decision to leave one exceptionally talented Liverpool player out of the starting lineup during Saturday night’s match. The coach’s tactical approach was justified as Liverpool secured a 2-0 win over Aston Villa, earning their first Premier League points since September.
Most key players returned to action following the Carabao Cup loss to Crystal Palace, but Florian Wirtz began the game on the bench and replaced Hugo Ekitike in the 77th minute. Despite a challenging schedule with a Real Madrid clash looming just 72 hours later, Slot made only that single substitution.
Lineker’s podcast insights
Speaking on his podcast The Rest Is Football, Lineker praised Liverpool’s number 7 while standing by Slot’s decision to temporarily rest him.
“It’d be good for Wirtz to come back into the team when there’s confidence in the squad. I think that would be sensible man management at the moment, take him out of the firing line a little bit, and then bring him on. I mean, Wirtz is a really good player, and you don’t buy these players for the first three months. He’s an exceptionally talented young player.”
Lineker’s comments highlight Slot’s strategic patience in developing Wirtz slowly, allowing him to regain confidence and integrate smoothly into a team searching for consistent form.
Author’s Summary
Lineker praised Slot’s strategic patience with the young Wirtz, calling the Liverpool boss’s decision to rest him a smart move to rebuild form and team confidence.