Why Liverpool Haven't Yet Found the Best from Wirtz So Far

Assessment of Florian Wirtz's first nine appearances for Liverpool has generally landed at the same conclusion - it has been an disappointing start.

Several commentators have gone further. Former Three Lions striker Wayne Rooney stated the expensive acquisition "disrupts the balance" of Liverpool's structure.

"He is a quality footballer and I'm confident he will get better - but he's experienced a gradual beginning and I think there's no question about that," said the former striker.

The young German is still without a goal or provide an goal contribution for his current team, but is that showing the complete story?

Here we explore how good he has performed, why he isn't performing as anticipated so far, and how the club could get the best out of him.

The squad's equilibrium is off, but they are evidently experiencing a phase of transition.

Head coach Arne Slot has altered his tactical setup this campaign - and perhaps the loss of defender the England international posed greater challenges than anticipated.

In a similar approach to Slot's previous club team, the Premier League side are looking to play with a increased frequency of rotations between players, progressing through the central areas of the pitch with quick, tight-area interplay.

It therefore makes sense for the attacking midfielder to be the primary attacking force to knit all elements together.

However, practically, he has been asked to do a function that is slightly different from the position he is familiar with.

This has reduced how frequently he finds himself in situations to find the net or create chances.

This setup fails to extract the best out of the player as an singular talent, but he hasn't been poorly in this sub-optimal role.

The midfielder is receiving the possession further back with increasing frequency.

Alexander-Arnold was outstanding in his capability to distribute the ball when playing deep, and Liverpool appear to be sorely missing that attribute.

Skipper the Dutch defender's long switch to forward Mohamed Salah is a great way for them to move the ball up the pitch consistently. Otherwise, the squad lack the passing quality in defence to locate team-mates in advanced positions.

That responsibility has been placed on Wirtz at times. He has been retreating deeper to receive the ball before turning and attempting to carry it forward. He is capable to do this because of his skill level, but it is reducing the time he operates close to the opposition goal.

If build-up responsibilities can be taken by another player, it possibly allows Wirtz to position himself more advanced the pitch.

The academy graduate has the ability to do this in a double pivot or on the left wing, and may be an option Slot could turn to as he looks to enhance the German's preferred style.

One of the biggest contrasts the player is experiencing in the Premier League is the reduced room and heightened intensity applied to him.

Operating centrally between the lines against very compact opposing teams such as Crystal Palace, the German has found himself with less time and space to operate.

For his former club, there were games in which the midfielder would stand on the left wing while his colleagues advanced the play up the pitch before passing to him.

In other situations, he would position himself in middle advanced midfield areas, particularly against opponents that offered more space between the lines in matches that developed into more counter-attacking in nature.

Former Leverkusen boss the Spanish manager utilized Wirtz effectively because both of these scenarios would allow him to receive the ball with separation - meaning he could collect and carry forward with room between himself and a opponent.

To get the best out of the player, getting the ball to him when there isn't immediate marking on him is ideal.

Whenever he is capable to receive the ball on the turn and drive it forward - with space between himself and the closest player - he is able to use body feints and a variation in speed to destabilize opposition defences.

Comparably to the Merseyside club attacker Jack Grealish, his best performances both on the dribble and in his distribution comes from situations in which he is carrying the possession and driving at players.

This is why several of Wirtz's best moments this campaign have occurred in counter-attacks.

Space can be created by deploying him on the wing initially or by finding him in the midfield quickly. If he is positioned between the defensive units, particularly when an rival team's structure is stretched, colleagues must therefore execute direct passes to find Wirtz.

The Premier League's physical demands has strategic consequences but also impacts players personally - and the German appears to have still not completely adjusted to this change.

With Slot's quicker and more rotation-based approach of attack, Liverpool are vulnerable to counter-attacks, with reduced bodies behind the ball. This demands forward players like Wirtz to counter-press with energy when the ball is lost.

The young talent has completely dedicated himself to the out-of-possession directives and has pressed intensely. Offensively, he is being encouraged to retreat to help in constructing play while maintaining the licence to contribute to offensive moves on both the left and right flank.

All of this is demanding on fitness, and several of his poor on-the-ball decisions may be attributed to fatigue. Among all players to feature significant game time in the Premier League this campaign, the midfielder has run the fifth most distance per full match and the most of all club teammate.

In a recent interview with Sky Sports Germany, Wirtz spoke about the difference in his performances this campaign versus last.

He said Slot had voiced a view "it might be because we harass a frequently and I cover ground a lot".

Wirtz added: "For example, the running stats: I am consistently at the forefront in that category because I attempt to exert maximum effort and execute what the coach asks. I require a lot of power and stamina for that. When I have the possession, I might be lacking a small amount. The expectation it will gradually come step by step, as I play more games, improve physically, be able to do things more effortlessly, and then, whenever I have the ball, be {fit|conditioned