Why Liverpool Aren't Getting the Optimal from Florian Wirtz So Far

Analysis of the German midfielder's initial nine games for the Merseyside club has typically reached the same conclusion - it has been an underwhelming start.

Several commentators have been more critical. Ex- Three Lions striker the Manchester United legend stated the expensive acquisition "damages the balance" of the team's structure.

"He is a top player and I'm sure he will improve - but he's experienced a slow start and I think there's no question about that," said the former striker.

Wirtz is still without a goal or register an assist for his current team, but does that paint the complete story?

In this analysis we examine how effective he has performed, why he hasn't been delivering as expected so far, and how Liverpool could extract the maximum out of him.

Liverpool's equilibrium is disrupted, but they are evidently experiencing a phase of transition.

Head coach the Dutch tactician has changed his tactical setup this season - and possibly the absence of right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold posed bigger questions than anticipated.

In a similar approach to the manager's previous club team, the Premier League side are looking to operate with a increased frequency of positional switches between players, advancing through the middle of the field with rapid, tight-area combination play.

It therefore makes sense for Wirtz to be the central attacking force to knit all elements collectively.

However, practically, he has been tasked to do a role that is slightly different from the position he is used to.

And that has minimised how often he positions himself in positions to find the net or assist.

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

Wirtz is getting the possession further back with increasing frequency.

The right-back was impressive in his capability to pass the play when operating in defensive areas, and Liverpool appear to be significantly lacking that quality.

Captain Virgil van Dijk's diagonal passes to forward Mohamed Salah is a effective way for them to get the play up the pitch reliably. Otherwise, the squad lack the passing quality in their defensive line to find team-mates in advanced positions.

This duty has fallen on the young German at times. He has been retreating deeper to receive the possession before turning and trying to carry it forward. He is able to perform this role because of his technical quality, but it is limiting the opportunities he spends near the opposing goal.

Should possession duties can be shouldered by another player, it possibly enables the attacker to position himself more advanced the pitch.

Curtis Jones has the capability to perform this function in a central midfield partnership or on the left flank, and may be an option Slot could turn to as he aims to complement Wirtz's natural game.

Among the most significant contrasts the player is experiencing in the English top flight is the limited room and heightened pressure exerted to him.

Positioned through the middle between the lines against extremely compact opposing teams such as the London club, the German has been positioned with less opportunity and space to operate.

For Bayer Leverkusen, there were matches in which Wirtz would position himself on the left flank while his team-mates advanced the ball forward before passing to him.

In other situations, he would position himself in middle advanced midfield positions, especially against opponents that provided more space between the defensive units in matches that developed into more counter-attacking in nature.

Former Bayer boss Xabi Alonso profiled Wirtz effectively because both of these situations would allow him to get the ball with separation - meaning he could receive and drive forward with distance between himself and a defender.

To get the maximum out of Wirtz, delivering the possession to him when there isn't instant marking on him is optimal.

When he is capable to receive the ball on the half-turn and carry it ahead - with distance between himself and the nearby player - he is capable to use body feints and a change in pace to disrupt opposition defensive structures.

Comparably to the Merseyside club attacker the England international, his finest work both on the dribble and in his passing originates from situations in which he is carrying the ball and driving at defenders.

That is why several of Wirtz's most impressive moments this season have occurred in counter-attacks.

Separation can be found by positioning him on the left flank initially or by passing to him in the midfield quickly. If he is positioned between the defensive units, particularly when an opposition's structure is spread, colleagues must therefore play direct passes to find the midfielder.

England's top division's physical demands has tactical implications but also affects players individually - and Wirtz appears to have still not completely adjusted to this transition.

Under Slot's quicker and more position-switching style of offensive play, Liverpool are susceptible to counter-attacks, with reduced bodies behind the ball. This demands forward players like Wirtz to press immediately with intensity when the possession is lost.

Wirtz has completely dedicated himself to the out-of-possession directives and has harassed energetically. In attack, he is being encouraged to drop deep to assist in constructing play while maintaining the freedom to participate to attacks on both the left side and right flank.

This combination is demanding physically, and several of his subpar on-the-ball decisions may be down to tiredness. Of all footballers to play significant game time in the Premier League this season, the midfielder has run the fifth most ground per 90 minutes and the highest of all Liverpool player.

In a recent interview with German media, the player discussed the difference in his displays this campaign versus last.

He said Slot had expressed a opinion "it could be because we press a lot and I run a lot".

The midfielder continued: "To illustrate, 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 need a significant strength and stamina for that. When I have the ball, I could be lacking a little bit. The expectation it will gradually develop step by step, as I play more games, improve physically, become capable to do things more easily, and subsequently, when I have the play, become {fit|conditioned