Arne Slot sets Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi target for Liverpool star Florian Wirtz

Arne Slot knows Florian Wirtz has the ability but he has laid down the challenge to the Liverpool new boy to show his robustness to reach the very top. The Reds boss casually dropped in the names of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Mo Salah when talking about the £116m man’s potential.

But it wasn’t any particular skillset of those three greats of the game that Slot was highlighting - it was their availability. The more games you are fit for the more games you can make a big impression in was the message ahead of life in English footballl.

As the former Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Wirtz prepares to begin his Premier League career on Friday night against Bournemouth, Slot offered his view on what he needs to do to fulfil his potential.

“Everything we expect is very positive but between expecting and realising something is different,” said Slot. “Why is Messi and Ronaldo and Mo, why are they so highly regarded? Because they are always fit.

“Every single game they are fit and that is something that Florian first has to show in a league like ours. If he is able to stay to fit then our fans will see great moments.”

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If Wirtz gets anywhere near the regard Salah is held on Merseyside then he will have fulfilled his potential. But, in a summer of change for Liverpool with over £300m spent and more to come while nearly £200m coming in from transfers out, Salah will find differences in the way the team will play.

Not least the absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who he played 70 per cent of his games in a red shirt with bringing his total tally of goals to 245 and counting. On Friday night he will have Jeremie Frimpong behind him and, when he is fit, it could be Conor Bradley.

Salah seemed a bit isolated in Liverpool’s defeat on penalties against Crystal Palace last week as he struggled to impact the game but Slot is not concerned by that.

“No the last time we were at Wembley he didn’t play his best game as well,” said Slot, referencing the Carabao Cup final defeat by Newcastle last season.

“By the way Trent wasn’t playing behind them then, it was Jarell [Quansah]. But even players like Mo can have a game where they maybe don’t play how we expect them to play.

“The good thing for us is that it hardly ever happens, he is nine out of 10 times the best version of himself and sometimes it is also the quality of the opponent or the playing style of the opponent that makes it really difficult for him.”

Slot cited Palace’s low block and directness from open play posing problems for Liverpool. It is why he has tried to evolve the team this summer, as well as players wanting to move on.

Wirtz, 22, is one player who can unlock any defence given his brilliance in the Bundesliga. Anfield will get their first competitive viewing of the Germany international in a Liverpool shirt and excitement is brewing on Merseyside about him more so than any other signing - and there’s been plenty.

Yet with it comes the pressure of the huge fee. Something Slot is not concerned about. “He might be young but he already won a lot,” he said. “Factually, we can see him as a young player but in terms of his experience, I don’t see him as a young player.

“He won the league with Germany, won the cup, has played for his country numerous times and apart from that, his mentality is his biggest strength.

“That says a lot because if you see him play, you’re like: ‘Are you serious because he’s so creative’. But how mentally strong he is, he doesn’t get distracted at all by a transfer fee or anything else.”

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