Why Liverpool Haven't Yet Got The Best From Florian Wirtz

Liverpool's evolving tactics and Wirtz's adapting role

Liverpool's £116m signing Florian Wirtz has faced a challenging start to his Premier League career. Despite his undeniable talent, his first nine appearances have been met with mixed reviews, with critics like Wayne Rooney suggesting the German midfielder disrupts the team's balance. However, a deeper dive reveals that Liverpool's tactical evolution under manager Arne Slot plays a crucial role in Wirtz's adjustment period.

Slot's approach, inspired by his Feyenoord tenure, emphasises quick, tight rotations through the middle, prioritising small-space interplay rather than traditional wide play. This system calls for Wirtz to act as the central orchestrator, knitting together attacks. However, this role differs from Wirtz's previous positions at Bayer Leverkusen, where he enjoyed more freedom higher up the pitch to exploit spaces and create scoring opportunities.

Wirtz's deeper positioning limits scoring chances

At Liverpool, Wirtz has often been tasked with dropping deeper to collect the ball and initiate forward movement. The departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold has left a void in Liverpool's defence for precise passing from the back, forcing Wirtz to assist in build-up play more than usual. While his technical skills enable him to carry the ball out of defence effectively, it reduces his time spent in attacking areas, limiting goal and assist opportunities.

Captain Virgil van Dijk's long passes to Mohamed Salah remain a key outlet, but Liverpool lack consistent deep passing options, increasing the burden on Wirtz. Slot might consider utilising midfielders like Curtis Jones to share build-up duties, potentially freeing Wirtz to position himself higher and closer to the opposition goal, which aligns better with his natural game.

How space and pressure affect Wirtz's style

One of the biggest challenges Wirtz faces in the Premier League is the intense pressure and compact defensive setups. Teams like Crystal Palace defend in tight blocks, leaving minimal space between lines. At Leverkusen, Wirtz often found pockets of space either on the left wing or in central attacking midfield roles, allowing him to receive the ball with room to accelerate and create.

Receiving the ball under less pressure gives Wirtz the opportunity to use body feints and quick changes of pace to disrupt defences, reminiscent of Jack Grealish's style at Everton. His best moments this season have come during counter-attacks or quick transitions, where he can drive into space. To replicate this, Liverpool need to supply him with direct passes early, especially when the opposition defensive shape is stretched.

The physical demands of the Premier League on Wirtz

The Premier League's pace and physicality demand a lot from players. Liverpool's high-pressing, rotation-heavy style requires forwards and midfielders like Wirtz to expend significant energy both in and out of possession. Wirtz has embraced Slot's pressing instructions, covering the fifth most distance per 90 minutes in the league and topping Liverpool's charts.

This workload may be impacting his technical sharpness on the ball, as fatigue sets in. In a recent interview, Wirtz acknowledged the challenge of balancing pressing intensity with maintaining quality on the ball. At Leverkusen, he could conserve energy by jogging or walking at times, allowing bursts of creativity. At Liverpool, he must improve his fitness and energy management to sustain high-level performances throughout matches.

How Liverpool can optimise Wirtz's impact

To maximise Wirtz's potential, Liverpool should consider tactical tweaks that play to his strengths. Pairing him with industrious midfield partners like Dominik Szoboszlai could ease his defensive burden, allowing him to focus more on attacking contributions. Positioning him initially on the left flank or ensuring he receives the ball with space between him and defenders will help him utilise his dribbling and passing skills more effectively.

Given time to adapt, Wirtz's chemistry with Liverpool teammates should improve, aligning with Slot's vision. This gradual integration is crucial, especially for such a high-profile signing facing intense scrutiny.

Conclusion: Patience and tactical refinement key for Wirtz's success

While early critiques of Wirtz's Liverpool stint have been harsh, it's important to consider the broader context of tactical shifts, physical demands, and adaptation to a new league. The narrative of Liverpool's season may well focus on how they refine their squad balance and tailor Wirtz's role to unleash his creative talents.

For fans interested in broader football insights and updates, reading this comprehensive guide to UK and Ireland football leagues and cups offers valuable context to the domestic football landscape.

Additionally, Liverpool supporters looking for inspiring comeback tales might appreciate how Josh Allen led the Bills to a stunning comeback against the Ravens, demonstrating the power of resilience—a quality Liverpool will need this season.