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

Assessment of Florian Wirtz's initial nine games for the Merseyside club has typically reached the same conclusion - it has been an underwhelming start.

Several commentators have gone further. Ex- England striker Wayne Rooney said the £116m signing "damages the balance" of Liverpool's setup.

"He's a top player and I'm sure he will improve - but he's had a gradual beginning and I think there's no denying that," commented the former striker.

The young German is yet to score or register an assist for his new club, but does that paint the complete story?

Here we examine how good he has performed, why he isn't performing as anticipated yet, and how the club could extract the best out of him.

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

Manager the Dutch tactician has altered his tactical setup this season - and perhaps the absence of right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold posed greater challenges than expected.

In a similar approach to the manager's previous club team, Liverpool are looking to play with a greater number of positional switches between teammates, advancing through the central areas of the pitch with quick, small-space combination play.

It therefore makes sense for Wirtz to be the primary creative hub to connect all elements collectively.

But, in reality, he has been tasked to perform a role that is somewhat altered from the position he is used to.

And that has minimised how frequently he positions himself in positions to score or create chances.

This setup fails to extract the maximum potential out of Wirtz as an singular talent, but he hasn't been bad in this less-than-ideal position.

Wirtz is getting the possession further back more often.

Alexander-Arnold was impressive in his ability to pass the play when operating deep, and the team appear to be sorely missing that attribute.

Captain the Dutch defender's diagonal passes to attacker Mohamed Salah is a great way for them to move the play up the pitch reliably. Otherwise, Liverpool are missing the passing quality in their defensive line to find team-mates up the field.

That responsibility has fallen on the young German at times. He has been dropping deep to get the ball before turning and trying to drive it up the pitch. He is able to do this because of his technical quality, but it is reducing the time he spends near the opposition goal.

Should build-up duties can be shouldered by a different teammate, it possibly enables Wirtz to operate more advanced the pitch.

Curtis Jones has the ability to do this in a central midfield partnership or on the left flank, and could represent an option the manager could turn to as he looks to enhance the German's natural game.

Among the biggest contrasts Wirtz is encountering in the Premier League is the reduced space and heightened pressure exerted to him.

Operating through the middle between the defensive units against extremely organized defensive sides such as the London club, the German has been positioned with reduced time and room to play.

For his former club, there were games in which Wirtz would position himself on the left flank while his colleagues advanced the play up the pitch before passing to him.

In other situations, he would operate in middle attacking midfield areas, especially against opponents that provided more room between the defensive units in matches that developed into more counter-attacking in nature.

Former Bayer boss Xabi Alonso utilized Wirtz effectively because each of these situations would enable him to receive the ball with separation - meaning he could collect and carry forward with distance between himself and a opponent.

To get the best out of Wirtz, delivering the ball to him when there isn't instant marking on him is ideal.

Whenever he is capable to receive the play on the half-turn and carry it forward - with distance between himself and the nearby opponent - he is capable to use deceptive movements and a change in pace to destabilize rival defensive structures.

In a similar manner to Everton forward the England international, his finest performances both on the dribble and in his distribution originates from scenarios in which he is driving with the ball and driving at players.

This is why many of Wirtz's most impressive moments this season have come in transitions.

Separation can be found by deploying him on the left flank initially or by passing to him in the midfield quickly. When he is positioned between the defensive units, especially when an opposition's defensive shape is spread, team-mates must accordingly execute direct passes to find Wirtz.

England's top division's intensity has strategic consequences but also impacts players individually - and the German appears to have still not fully adapted to this transition.

With the manager's faster and more rotation-based approach of offensive play, the team are vulnerable to fast breaks, with reduced bodies behind the ball. This demands forward players like Wirtz to press immediately with energy when the ball is turned over.

Wirtz has completely committed to the defensive instructions and has pressed intensely. Offensively, he is being encouraged to drop deep to assist in building up while having the licence to contribute to offensive moves on both the left and right flank.

This combination is demanding physically, and several of his poor on-the-ball actions could be attributed to fatigue. Among all footballers to play 400+ minutes in the Premier League this campaign, the midfielder has run the fifth-highest ground per full match and the most of all Liverpool teammate.

During a recent discussion with Sky Sports Germany, Wirtz discussed the difference in his displays this campaign versus last.

He said Slot had voiced a view "it could be because we harass a frequently and I run a considerably".

The midfielder continued: "For example, the running stats: I am consistently at the top in that category because I try to exert maximum effort and do what the coach demands. I require a significant strength and stamina for that. Whenever I have the ball, I could be missing a small amount. The expectation it will gradually come step by step, as I play more games, improve physically, become capable to do things more effortlessly, and then, whenever I have the ball, become {fit|conditioned