Initial assessments of Florian Wirtz’s first nine appearances for Liverpool have largely converged on a similar conclusion: his start has been comparatively subdued.
Some observers have expressed stronger opinions. Former England international Wayne Rooney suggested the £116m acquisition “disrupts the equilibrium” within Liverpool’s squad.
“He’s undeniably a quality player with the potential for growth, but his initial performances have been underwhelming, a fact that’s hard to dispute,” Rooney stated.
Wirtz is yet to register a goal for his new team, with his sole assist occurring during their Community Shield defeat against Crystal Palace. However, does this limited output fully encapsulate his contributions?
Here, we provide an in-depth analysis of his performances, explore potential factors contributing to his slower-than-anticipated integration, and examine strategies Liverpool could employ to maximize his potential.
Liverpool’s current state suggests a team undergoing recalibration, affecting their overall balance.
The tactical adjustments implemented by manager Arne Slot this season, coupled with the absence of right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, may have presented unanticipated challenges.
Echoing the approach seen in Slot’s Feyenoord team, Liverpool are aiming to implement a more fluid system characterized by frequent positional rotations and intricate, close-quarters interplay through the central areas.
In this framework, Wirtz is expected to function as the central orchestrator, connecting various attacking elements.
In reality, his current role deviates somewhat from his established style of play.
Consequently, the frequency with which he finds himself in goal-scoring or assist-providing positions has been reduced.
While he has performed adequately despite these limitations, this sub-optimal deployment does not fully leverage Wirtz’s individual strengths.
Wirtz is currently receiving the ball in deeper areas more consistently.
Liverpool appear to be missing Alexander-Arnold’s exceptional deep-lying passing ability.
While Virgil van Dijk’s long passes to Mohamed Salah offer a reliable method for advancing the ball, the team otherwise lacks consistent passing quality from the defensive line.
This has occasionally led to Wirtz dropping back to receive possession, turn, and initiate forward progress. While his technical skills enable him to fulfill this role, it ultimately reduces his time spent in more advanced, threatening positions.
Reallocating these build-up responsibilities to another player could potentially allow Wirtz to occupy more advanced areas of the pitch.
Curtis Jones, operating either in a double pivot or on the left wing, possesses the necessary qualities and could be an option for Slot to consider in order to better complement Wirtz’s natural style.
Wirtz is currently being asked to drop deeper to facilitate his team-mates’ access to the ball.
Another significant adaptation Wirtz faces in the Premier League is the heightened pressure and diminished space available to him.
Operating centrally between the lines against defensively compact teams like Crystal Palace, Wirtz has encountered less time and space to execute his plays.
At Bayer Leverkusen, Wirtz would sometimes position himself on the left wing, allowing his team-mates to advance the ball before passing to him.
Alternatively, he would occupy central attacking midfield positions, especially against teams that afforded greater space between the lines, leading to more transitional gameplay.
Under former Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso, Wirtz thrived in these scenarios, receiving the ball with separation from defenders, enabling him to drive forward.
Wirtz excels at receiving the ball on the back foot, allowing him to immediately face forward and drive past the full-back.
To maximize Wirtz’s effectiveness, ensuring he receives the ball without immediate pressure is crucial.
When he receives the ball on the half-turn with sufficient space, he can effectively utilize body feints and changes in pace to disrupt opposing defenses.
Similar to Everton’s Jack Grealish, Wirtz’s most impactful dribbling and passing often occur when he is carrying the ball and driving towards defenders.
This explains why many of Wirtz’s standout moments this season have occurred during transitional plays.
To create separation, he can be positioned on the left flank initially, or found in midfield early in the play. If he is positioned between the lines, particularly when the opposition’s defensive structure is stretched, direct passes are essential to find him.
The Premier League’s intensity has both tactical and individual implications, and Wirtz appears to still be adapting to these changes.
Slot’s emphasis on quick transitions and rotations makes Liverpool vulnerable to counter-attacks, requiring attackers like Wirtz to engage in intense counter-pressing when possession is lost.
Wirtz has fully embraced these defensive responsibilities, pressing with considerable intensity. Offensively, he is encouraged to drop deep to assist in build-up play while also contributing to attacks on both flanks.
These demands are physically taxing, potentially contributing to some of his less effective on-the-ball actions. Among players with 400+ Premier League minutes this season, Wirtz ranks fifth in distance covered per 90 minutes, and highest among Liverpool players.
The transition from the Bundesliga to the Premier League has presented unique physical and tactical challenges for Wirtz.
In a recent interview with Sky Sports Germany, Wirtz discussed the differences in his performances compared to the previous season.
He mentioned that Slot suggested his current form “could be related to the high pressing and extensive running.”
Wirtz added: “For example, in running stats, I’m consistently at the top because I’m dedicated to pushing hard and following the coach’s instructions. This requires considerable strength and energy, which might slightly impact my performance when I have the ball. I anticipate that this will gradually improve as I play more games, enhance my fitness, and perform tasks more effortlessly. Consequently, when I have possession, I’ll be sufficiently fit and recovered to exert myself fully.”
At Leverkusen, Wirtz would occasionally conserve energy by walking or jogging lightly to recover, enabling him to utilize his bursts more effectively.
While Wirtz’s physical condition will naturally improve over time, energy conservation remains crucial for executing darting runs and delivering accurate passes in the later stages of matches.
Pairing him with other industrious midfielders, such as Dominik Szoboszlai, could benefit both Wirtz and Liverpool.
These proposed solutions aim to place Wirtz in scenarios that more closely resemble those in which he thrived at Leverkusen.
Of course, Slot may also be hoping that Wirtz and his team-mates naturally develop a chemistry that allows them to fully execute his vision.
While players typically require time to adjust to a new team, high-profile signings face added pressure to perform to avoid external criticism.
Given his contributions, the demands placed upon him, and the broader uncertainties surrounding Liverpool’s transition, labeling Wirtz’s performances as poor may be excessively harsh.
The narrative of their season may ultimately center on optimizing the squad’s balance before refining Wirtz’s role, prioritizing his strengths rather than using him to compensate for the team’s weaknesses.
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