Kop boss Slot backs £116m 'artist' to work his magic and handle the derby heat

ARNE SLOT believes Florian Wirtz has the right mentality to handle the Merseyside derby because Liverpool's £116million man wouldn't have reached the Premier League without it.

- BY PAUL GORST

And the Reds boss, whose side host Everton at lunchtime, claims Wirtz won't be inhibited by his price tag.

The Germany international has yet to score a goal or provide an assist in the Premier League since his move from Bayer Leverkusen.

But he turned in his most encouraging display to date in Wednesday's 3-2 Champions League win over Atletico Madrid at Anfield.

"To say that he's [only] an artist doesn't do him justice," Slot said. "He is an artist but he can be mean as well. Otherwise, you can't reach the levels he's reaching.