The Reasons Why The Reds Haven't Yet Found the Optimal from Florian Wirtz So Far

Assessment of the German midfielder's initial nine games for Liverpool has generally landed at the same conclusion - it has been an underwhelming start.

Several commentators have gone further. Former England striker the Manchester United legend stated the expensive acquisition "disrupts the equilibrium" of the team's setup.

"He's a quality footballer and I'm confident he will improve - but he's experienced a gradual beginning and I believe there's no denying that," commented the former striker.

The young German is still without a goal or register an assist for his new club, but is that showing the whole picture?

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

The squad's equilibrium is off, but they are clearly experiencing a phase of change.

Manager Arne Slot has changed his tactical setup this season - and possibly the absence of right-back the England international posed greater challenges than expected.

In a similar approach to Slot's Feyenoord team, the Premier League side are attempting to operate with a greater number of rotations between teammates, progressing through the central areas of the field with quick, tight-area combination play.

It therefore makes sense for Wirtz to be the primary creative hub to knit everything collectively.

But, in reality, he has been tasked to do a role that is slightly different from the position he is familiar with.

And that has minimised how frequently he finds himself in positions to score or assist.

It doesn't get the best out of the player as an individual, but he hasn't performed poorly in this sub-optimal role.

Wirtz is receiving the ball further back with increasing frequency.

Alexander-Arnold was impressive in his capability to distribute the ball when playing in defensive areas, and Liverpool appear to be significantly lacking that quality.

Captain the Dutch defender's long switch to forward the Egyptian winger is a great method for them to get the play forward reliably. Otherwise, Liverpool are missing the passing quality in their defensive line to locate team-mates up the field.

This duty has fallen on Wirtz at certain moments. He has been dropping deep to get the ball before changing direction 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 operates near the opposition net.

If possession duties can be taken by a different teammate, it potentially allows Wirtz to operate more advanced the pitch.

The academy graduate has the capability to perform this function in a double pivot or on the left wing, and may be an option Slot could consider as he aims to enhance Wirtz's preferred style.

Among the most significant contrasts the player is experiencing in the Premier League is the limited space and heightened intensity exerted to him.

Operating centrally between the defensive units against extremely compact defensive sides such as Crystal Palace, the German has been positioned with less opportunity and space to play.

During his time at his former club, there were matches in which Wirtz would position himself on the left flank while his team-mates progressed the play up the pitch before passing to him.

Alternatively, he would position himself in middle attacking midfield positions, especially against sides that provided more room between the lines in games that became more counter-attacking in nature.

Ex- Bayer boss the Spanish manager utilized the talent well because each of these scenarios would allow him to get the possession with space - meaning he could receive and drive forward with distance between himself and a opponent.

For extracting the best out of Wirtz, delivering the possession to him when there isn't instant marking on him is optimal.

Whenever he is able to collect the ball on the half-turn and drive it forward - with space between himself and the closest player - he is capable to use body feints and a variation in speed to destabilize opposition defences.

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

That is why several of the German's most impressive moments this season have come in counter-attacks.

Separation can be found by positioning him on the left flank initially or by finding him in the midfield early. If he is positioned between the defensive units, particularly when an opposition's defensive shape is spread, colleagues must accordingly execute direct passes to find the midfielder.

England's top division's physical demands has tactical implications but also impacts footballers personally - and Wirtz seems to have not yet completely adjusted to this change.

Under Slot's faster and more position-switching approach of attack, Liverpool are vulnerable to counter-attacks, with fewer players behind the ball. This demands attackers like the midfielder to press immediately with intensity when the possession is turned over.

Wirtz has fully committed to the defensive instructions and has pressed energetically. In attack, he is being instructed to retreat to assist in constructing play while having the licence to contribute to offensive moves on each of the left side and right.

This combination is taxing physically, and several of his poor on-the-ball decisions could be down to fatigue. Among all players to play significant game time in the top division this campaign, the German has run the fifth most ground per 90 minutes and the highest of any club player.

During a recent discussion with Sky Sports Germany, Wirtz discussed the difference in his displays this season compared to last.

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

Wirtz added: "For example, the running stats: I am consistently at the forefront there because I attempt to push hard and execute what the coach demands. I require a lot of strength and energy for that. Whenever I have the possession, I could be missing a small amount. That this will simply come step by step, as I gain more experience, improve physically, be able to perform actions more effortlessly, and subsequently, whenever I have the play, be {fit|conditioned