Why Liverpool Haven't Yet Found the Optimal from Florian Wirtz Yet

Assessment of the German midfielder's first nine appearances for Liverpool has typically reached the same conclusion - it has been an underwhelming beginning.

Some have gone further. Ex- England striker Wayne Rooney stated 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 slow start and I believe there's no denying that," said Rooney.

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

In this analysis we examine how effective he has performed, why he isn't performing as anticipated so far, and how the club could extract the maximum out of him.

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

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

In a similar approach to the manager's Feyenoord team, Liverpool are looking to play with a greater number of rotations between players, advancing through the middle of the field with rapid, tight-area interplay.

This logically explains for Wirtz to be the primary creative hub to connect all elements collectively.

However, practically, he has been tasked to do a function that is somewhat altered from one he is familiar with.

This has minimised how frequently he finds himself in situations to find the net or assist.

It doesn't get the best out of Wirtz as an singular talent, but he hasn't been bad in this sub-optimal position.

Wirtz is receiving the ball deeper with increasing frequency.

Alexander-Arnold was outstanding in his ability to distribute the ball when playing deep, and the team seem sorely missing that quality.

Skipper the Dutch defender's diagonal passes to forward the Egyptian winger is a effective method for them to move the ball up the pitch reliably. Alternatively, Liverpool lack the passing quality in their defensive line to locate teammates in advanced positions.

This duty has fallen on Wirtz at certain moments. He has been dropping deep to get the possession before turning and attempting to drive it forward. He is able to do this because of his skill level, but it is limiting the time he operates close to the opposition net.

Should build-up duties can be shouldered by another player, it possibly allows the attacker to position himself more advanced the field.

Curtis Jones has the ability to do this in a double pivot or on the left wing, and could represent an alternative Slot could consider as he aims to enhance Wirtz's preferred style.

Among the biggest differences the player is experiencing in the English top flight is the reduced space and heightened pressure exerted to him.

Positioned centrally between the defensive units against extremely organized opposing teams such as Crystal Palace, Wirtz has been positioned with less opportunity and space to play.

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

Alternatively, he would operate in central attacking midfield areas, especially against sides that offered more room between the lines in games that developed into more transitional in nature.

Former Bayer boss Xabi Alonso utilized Wirtz effectively because both of these situations would allow him to get the ball with separation - meaning he could collect and drive forward with room between himself and a opponent.

For extracting the maximum out of Wirtz, getting the ball to him when there isn't instant pressure on him is ideal.

Whenever he is capable to receive the play on the turn and carry it ahead - with distance between himself and the nearby player - he is capable to use deceptive movements and a change in pace to destabilize rival defences.

Comparably to the Merseyside club forward Jack Grealish, his best performances both on the dribble and in his distribution originates from scenarios in which he is driving with the possession and driving at defenders.

This is why several of Wirtz's most impressive moments this campaign have occurred in counter-attacks.

Separation can be created by deploying him on the wing initially or by finding him in the midfield early. When he is positioned between the lines, particularly when an rival team's defensive shape is stretched, team-mates must therefore execute forward passes to locate Wirtz.

England's top division's intensity has tactical implications but also affects players individually - and Wirtz appears to have not yet fully adapted to this transition.

Under the manager's faster and more position-switching approach of offensive play, the team are vulnerable to counter-attacks, with reduced bodies supporting the play. This demands forward players like Wirtz to press immediately with intensity when the possession is turned over.

Wirtz has completely committed to the defensive directives and has pressed energetically. Offensively, he is being encouraged to retreat to help in constructing play while maintaining the licence to participate to attacks on both the left side and right.

All of this is taxing physically, and some of his poor possession decisions could be down to fatigue. Of all players to play 400+ minutes in the Premier League this season, the midfielder has run the fifth-highest distance per full match and the highest of all Liverpool player.

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

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

Wirtz continued: "To illustrate, the running stats: I am always at the top there because I try to exert maximum effort and do what the coach demands. I need a significant power and energy for that. Whenever I have the possession, I might be missing a little bit. That it will simply come progressively, as I play more games, improve physically, be able to do things more easily, and subsequently, when I have the play, be {fit|conditioned