The Reasons Why The Reds Aren't Getting the Optimal from Florian Wirtz Yet

Analysis of the German midfielder's first nine appearances for the Merseyside club has generally landed at the identical verdict - it has been an disappointing beginning.

Several commentators have gone further. Former Three Lions striker the Manchester United legend said the £116m signing "damages the equilibrium" of the team's setup.

"He's a top player and I'm confident he will improve - but he's had a slow start and I think there's no question about that," said the former striker.

Wirtz is still without a goal or provide an goal contribution 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 expected so far, and how the club could extract the maximum out of him.

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

Head coach Arne Slot has changed his tactical setup this season - and possibly the absence of defender the England international created greater challenges than expected.

In a similar approach to the manager's previous club team, the Premier League side are looking to operate with a increased frequency of positional switches between teammates, advancing through the central areas of the pitch with quick, small-space combination play.

This logically explains for the attacking midfielder to be the central creative hub to connect everything together.

However, practically, he has been asked to perform a function that is slightly different from one he is familiar with.

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

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

Wirtz is getting the ball further back with increasing frequency.

The right-back was impressive in his ability to pass the play when playing in defensive areas, and the team seem significantly lacking that attribute.

Skipper Virgil van Dijk's diagonal passes to attacker the Egyptian winger is a effective method for them to move the ball up the pitch consistently. Alternatively, the squad are missing the distribution ability in defence to locate teammates up the field.

This duty has fallen on the young German at times. He has been retreating deeper to get the ball before turning and trying to drive it forward. He is capable to do this because of his skill level, but it is reducing the time he operates close to the opposition net.

Should build-up responsibilities can be taken by another player, it possibly enables the attacker to position himself higher up the pitch.

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

Among the most significant differences the player is encountering in the English top flight is the limited space and increased pressure exerted to him.

Operating centrally between the lines against very organized opposing teams such as the London club, Wirtz has found himself with less time and room to operate.

During his time at his former club, there were matches in which Wirtz would stand on the left flank while his colleagues advanced the play up the pitch before finding him.

Alternatively, he would position himself in middle advanced midfield areas, especially against sides that provided more space between the defensive units in games that became more counter-attacking in nature.

Ex- Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso utilized Wirtz effectively because both of these scenarios would enable him to receive the possession with separation - meaning he could collect and carry forward with room between himself and a opponent.

For extracting the maximum out of the player, delivering the possession to him when there isn't immediate marking on him is optimal.

Whenever he is capable to collect the play on the half-turn and carry it ahead - with space between himself and the nearby player - he is able to use deceptive movements and a change in speed to destabilize rival defences.

In a similar manner to Everton forward the England international, his best performances both on the dribble and in his distribution originates from scenarios in which he is carrying the ball and driving at players.

This is why many of Wirtz's best instances this campaign have occurred in counter-attacks.

Space can be created by deploying him on the wing initially or by finding him in the midfield early. If he is operating between the lines, especially when an rival team's structure is spread, colleagues must therefore play direct balls to find Wirtz.

England's top division's intensity has tactical implications but also affects players personally - and Wirtz appears to have still not completely adjusted to this transition.

Under Slot's faster and more rotation-based style of offensive play, Liverpool are vulnerable to fast breaks, with reduced players behind the play. This requires forward players like the midfielder to press immediately with energy when the ball is lost.

Wirtz has completely dedicated himself to the defensive instructions and has pressed intensely. In attack, he is being instructed to retreat to assist in building up while maintaining the freedom to participate to offensive moves on each of the left and right flank.

All of this is taxing on fitness, and several of his poor possession decisions could be attributed to fatigue. Of all players to feature significant game time in the Premier League this campaign, the midfielder has covered the fifth-highest distance per 90 minutes and the highest of all club player.

In a recent interview with German media, the player spoke about the difference in his displays this season versus the previous year.

He stated the manager had expressed a opinion "it might be because we harass a frequently and I cover ground a lot".

The midfielder added: "For example, the running stats: I am consistently at the top in that category because I attempt to exert maximum effort and execute what the coach asks. I require a significant power and energy for that. Whenever I have the ball, I might be missing a little bit. That it will simply come step by step, as I play more games, get fitter, be able to perform actions more effortlessly, and then, when I have the ball, become {fit|conditioned