Why Liverpool aren’t getting the best from Wirtz yet

It has been an underwhelming start for Florian Wirtz’s first nine starts for Liverpool, according to analysis of his first nine starts.

Some have gone even further. Wayne Rooney, a former England international, claimed that the £116 million signing “damages the balance” of Liverpool’s team.

Rooney said, “He’s a top player and I’m sure he will improve,” but “he’s had a slow start, and I think there’s no disputing that.”

Does Wirtz’s absence from his new club’s scoring or assist indicate anything?

Liverpool’s balance is off, but it’s obvious that they’re going through a transition.

Manager Arne Slot has altered his style this year, and possibly the loss of right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold raised more questions than expected.

Liverpool are looking to play with a greater number of rotations between players, progressing through the middle of the pitch with quick, small-space interplay, in a manner akin to Slot’s Feyenoord team.

Therefore, Wirtz’s central attacking force makes sense in order to connect everything.

He has been asked to play a role that is a little bit different from what he is used to, which is in reality.

And that has reduced how frequently he plays for or assists others.

More frequently is Wirtz receiving the ball.

Liverpool seem to be severely lacking in Alexander-Arnold’s ability to pass the ball while playing deep, which is impressive.

The long-range pass from captain Virgil van Dijk to Mohamed Salah is a fantastic way for them to reliably raise the ball up the pitch. Without this, Liverpool struggled to find team-mates on the field.

Sometimes Wirtz has had to bear that burden. Before turning and attempting to carry the ball up the pitch, he has been dropping deep. Due to his technical abilities, he can accomplish this, but it also cuts off time from the opposition goal.

If another player can shoulder build-up responsibilities, Wirtz might be able to position himself higher up the pitch.

The Premier League’s reduced space and increased pressure applied to him are two of the biggest differences.

With less time and space to play, Wirtz has found himself centrally positioned between the lines against incredibly compact defensive teams like Crystal Palace.

There were times when Wirtz would play left wing for Bayer Leverkusen while his teammates would move the ball up the pitch before finding him.

Alternately, he could play in the central attacking midfield, especially when there was more room for the transitional in games.

It’s ideal to get the ball to Wirtz when there isn’t immediate pressure on him in order to get the most out of him.

When he can use body feints and a change of speed to disrupt opposing defenses when he can receive the ball on the half-turn and carry it forward with a gap between himself and the nearby player.

His best work, like Jack Grealish’s for Everton, comes from playing ball drives and kicking at players, much like Jack Grealish’s.

Many of Wirtz’s best moments this season were transitional, which is why.

The intensity of the Premier League affects players both tactically and personally, and Wirtz appears to have not fully adjusted to this change.

With fewer bodies behind the ball, Liverpool are more prone to counter-attacks because of Slot’s quicker and more rotation-based attack style. When the ball is lost, attackers like Wirtz must counter-press with intensity.

Wirtz has worked tirelessly and fully committed to the instructions to end possession. He is being encouraged to drop deep in the attack while also being given permission to launch attacks against both the left and right.

Wirtz discussed the differences between his performances this year and last in a recent interview with Sky Sports Germany.

He claimed that Slot had suggested that “it could be because we press a lot and I run a lot.”

For instance, consider the running stats: I always have the best results because I work hard and follow coach instructions. For that, I require a lot of strength and drive. I might be lacking a little when I have the ball. That it will simply move along as I increase my physical activity, improve my ability to play more games, and improve my ability to perform certain tasks more effectively before becoming fit enough and rehabilitated enough to exert pressure when I have the ball.”

For Leverkusen, there were times during which he would jog or walk slowly to recover, enabling him to use his burst more decisively.

Although Wirtz’s physical condition will naturally improve as his game progresses, energy conservation is crucial if he wants to make darting runs and pass passes with accuracy in the later stages of the match.

These potential solutions aim to place Wirtz in situations that more closely resemble those in which he was previously found himself for Leverkusen.

Slot, of course, may be hoping that Wirtz and his team-mates will develop the chemistry necessary to realize his vision.

Players need time to adjust to a new squad, but expensive signings must perform more to protect themselves from criticism from the outside.

Given his performances, what has been asked of him, and the wider uncertainties surrounding Liverpool, it’s probably too strong to conclude that Wirtz has been poor so far.