The Reasons Why The Reds Haven't Yet Found the Best from Florian 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 England striker Wayne Rooney said the expensive acquisition "disrupts the balance" of the team's setup.

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

Wirtz is yet to score or register an assist for his current team, but is that showing the whole picture?

In this analysis we explore how effective he has been, why he hasn't been delivering as expected yet, and how Liverpool could get the maximum out of him.

Liverpool's balance is off, but they are evidently experiencing a phase of transition.

Manager the Dutch tactician has altered his tactical setup this season - and perhaps the loss of defender the England international posed bigger questions than anticipated.

Following a comparable pattern to the manager's Feyenoord team, the Premier League side are attempting to play with a increased frequency of positional switches between players, progressing through the central areas of the field with quick, small-space combination play.

It therefore makes sense for the attacking midfielder to be the central creative hub to knit all elements collectively.

But, practically, he has been asked to do a function that is somewhat altered from the position he is used to.

This has reduced how often he positions himself in positions to find the net or assist.

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

Wirtz is receiving the ball further back with increasing frequency.

Alexander-Arnold was outstanding in his capability to distribute the play when playing deep, and the team seem significantly lacking that quality.

Skipper Virgil van Dijk's diagonal passes to forward the Egyptian winger is a effective method for them to move the play up the pitch consistently. Otherwise, Liverpool lack the passing quality in defence to find teammates up the field.

That responsibility has fallen on Wirtz at times. He has been dropping deep to receive the ball before turning and trying to drive it up the pitch. He is capable to perform this role because of his technical quality, but it is limiting the time he operates near the opposing net.

If build-up duties can be shouldered by another player, it potentially enables Wirtz to operate higher up the pitch.

The academy graduate has the ability to do this in a double pivot or on the left flank, and may be an option the manager could turn to as he aims to complement Wirtz's natural game.

One of the biggest differences Wirtz is experiencing in the English top flight is the reduced room and heightened intensity exerted to him.

Positioned through the middle between the lines against very organized opposing teams such as Crystal Palace, the German has been positioned with less time and space to operate.

For his former club, there were matches in which the midfielder would stand on the left wing while his colleagues advanced the ball up the pitch before finding him.

Alternatively, he would operate in central attacking midfield areas, especially against sides that provided more space between the lines in games that became more counter-attacking in nature.

Ex- Bayer boss the Spanish manager profiled the talent effectively because both of these scenarios would allow him to get the possession with separation - meaning he could collect and carry forward with distance between himself and a defender.

For extracting the best out of Wirtz, delivering the possession to him when there is not immediate pressure on him is ideal.

When he is able to receive the ball on the turn and carry it ahead - with distance between himself and the nearby player - he is able to use deceptive movements and a change in speed to disrupt rival defences.

Comparably to the Merseyside club attacker the England international, his finest work both on the ball carrying and in his distribution comes from situations 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.

Space can be created by positioning him on the left flank initially or by finding him in the midfield early. When he is positioned between the lines, especially when an rival team's defensive shape is stretched, team-mates must accordingly execute direct passes to find Wirtz.

England's top division's physical demands has strategic implications but also impacts footballers personally - and Wirtz appears to have not yet fully adapted to this transition.

Under Slot's quicker and more position-switching style of attack, Liverpool are susceptible to counter-attacks, with reduced bodies supporting the ball. This demands attackers like Wirtz to press immediately with energy when the possession is turned over.

The young talent has completely dedicated himself to the out-of-possession instructions and has pressed intensely. In attack, he is being instructed to retreat to help in constructing play while maintaining the freedom to participate to offensive moves on each of the left and right flank.

This combination is demanding physically, and several of his subpar possession decisions could be attributed to tiredness. Of all players to play significant game time in the top division this campaign, the German has covered the fifth-highest distance per full match and the highest of any Liverpool teammate.

In a recent interview with German media, the player discussed the contrast in his displays this season versus the previous year.

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

The midfielder added: "To illustrate, the distance covered statistics: I am always at the top there because I attempt to push hard and execute what the coach demands. I need a lot of strength and stamina for that. Whenever I have the possession, I could be lacking a little bit. The expectation this will gradually develop progressively, as I gain more experience, get fitter, be able to do things more effortlessly, and then, when I have the ball, become {fit|conditioned