Why Liverpool Haven't Yet Found the Best from Florian Wirtz So Far

Assessment of Florian Wirtz's first nine appearances for the Merseyside club has typically reached the same conclusion - it has been an underwhelming beginning.

Some have been more critical. Ex- England striker Wayne Rooney said the £116m signing "damages the equilibrium" of the team's structure.

"He's a top player and I'm confident he will get better - 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 goal contribution for his current team, but is that showing the whole picture?

In this analysis we examine how effective he has performed, why he isn't performing as expected yet, and how Liverpool could extract the best out of him.

The squad's balance is disrupted, but they are evidently going through a period of change.

Manager the Dutch tactician has altered his approach this campaign - and perhaps the absence of defender the England international created bigger questions than anticipated.

In a similar approach to the manager's Feyenoord team, the Premier League side are attempting to play with a increased frequency of rotations between teammates, advancing through the central areas of the pitch with rapid, small-space combination play.

This logically explains for Wirtz to be the primary creative hub to knit all elements together.

However, in reality, he has been tasked to perform a function that is slightly different from the position he is familiar with.

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

It doesn't get the maximum potential out of the player as an singular talent, but he hasn't been poorly in this less-than-ideal position.

The midfielder is getting the possession further back with increasing frequency.

The right-back was outstanding in his ability to pass the play when operating in defensive areas, and Liverpool seem sorely missing that quality.

Captain the Dutch defender's diagonal passes to forward Mohamed Salah is a effective method for them to get the ball up the pitch consistently. Otherwise, Liverpool are missing the distribution ability in their defensive line to locate teammates up the field.

That responsibility has fallen on Wirtz at certain moments. He has been dropping deep to receive the ball before turning and attempting to carry it forward. He is capable to do this because of his skill level, but it is reducing the time he operates close to the opposing net.

If possession responsibilities can be shouldered by a different teammate, it potentially enables Wirtz to position himself more advanced the field.

The academy graduate has the capability to do this in a double pivot or on the left wing, and may be an alternative Slot could consider as he looks to complement the German's natural game.

Among the most significant contrasts the player is encountering in the Premier League is the reduced space and heightened pressure exerted to him.

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

For his former club, there were matches in which the midfielder would position himself on the left flank while his team-mates progressed the ball up the pitch before passing to him.

Alternatively, he would operate in middle advanced midfield areas, particularly against opponents that provided more room between the lines in matches that developed into more counter-attacking in nature.

Former Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso utilized the talent well because both of these situations would enable him to get the possession with space - meaning he could receive and carry forward with distance between himself and a opponent.

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

When he is able to collect the ball on the turn and carry it forward - with space between himself and the closest opponent - he is able to use body feints and a change in pace to disrupt rival defences.

In a similar manner to the Merseyside club attacker the England international, his best performances both on the ball carrying and in his distribution comes from scenarios in which he is carrying the possession and driving at players.

This is why several of Wirtz's best moments this season have come in counter-attacks.

Separation can be created by deploying him on the left flank initially or by passing to him in the center early. If he is positioned between the lines, particularly when an opposition's structure is spread, colleagues must therefore play forward passes to find Wirtz.

England's top division's physical demands has strategic implications but also impacts footballers personally - and the German seems to have still not completely adjusted to this transition.

Under Slot's faster and more rotation-based style of attack, the team are susceptible to fast breaks, with reduced bodies behind the play. This demands attackers like the midfielder to press immediately with energy when the ball is turned over.

The young talent has completely dedicated himself to the out-of-possession directives and has pressed intensely. In attack, he is being instructed to drop deep to assist in constructing play while having the licence to contribute to offensive moves on both the left and right flank.

This combination is demanding on fitness, and some of his subpar possession actions may be attributed to tiredness. Of all footballers to play significant game time in the Premier League this campaign, the German has run the fifth most distance per full match and the highest of all Liverpool teammate.

During a recent discussion with German media, Wirtz spoke about the contrast in his displays this season versus the previous year.

He said the manager had voiced a opinion "it might be because we press a frequently and I run a lot".

Wirtz continued: "For example, the running stats: I'm always at the forefront there because I try to push hard and do what the coach asks. I need a lot of strength and stamina for that. When I have the possession, I could be lacking a small amount. That this will gradually develop progressively, as I play more games, get fitter, be able to perform actions more easily, and subsequently, when I have the ball, be {fit|conditioned