The Reasons Why Liverpool Aren't Getting the Best from Wirtz So Far

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

Some have been more critical. Former England striker Wayne Rooney said the expensive acquisition "disrupts the equilibrium" of Liverpool's setup.

"He's a top player and I'm confident he will improve - but he's experienced a slow start and I believe there's no denying that," said the former striker.

Wirtz is still without a goal or register an goal contribution for his new club, but is that showing the complete story?

Here we explore how good he has performed, why he isn't performing as anticipated so far, and how the club could get the best out of him.

The squad's equilibrium is off, but they are evidently going through a phase of transition.

Manager the Dutch tactician has altered his tactical setup this campaign - and perhaps the absence of right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold created greater challenges than expected.

Following a comparable pattern to the manager's Feyenoord team, Liverpool are attempting to operate with a increased frequency of positional switches between teammates, advancing through the central areas of the pitch with rapid, tight-area interplay.

This logically explains for the attacking midfielder to be the central attacking force to knit everything collectively.

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

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

This setup fails to extract the maximum potential out of the player as an individual, but he hasn't been poorly in this less-than-ideal role.

The midfielder is receiving the possession deeper with increasing frequency.

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

Captain Virgil van Dijk's long switch to forward Mohamed Salah is a great method for them to move the ball up the pitch consistently. Otherwise, Liverpool are missing the passing quality in their defensive line to find teammates in advanced positions.

That responsibility has fallen on the young German at certain moments. He has been retreating deeper to receive the ball before turning and attempting to carry it up the pitch. He is capable to perform this role because of his skill level, but it is limiting the opportunities he spends near the opposition net.

Should possession duties can be taken by a different teammate, it potentially enables the attacker to operate more advanced the field.

The academy graduate has the ability to do this in a central midfield partnership or on the left flank, and could represent an option Slot could turn to as he looks to enhance the German's preferred style.

One of the most significant contrasts Wirtz is encountering in the Premier League is the reduced space and increased intensity exerted to him.

Operating centrally between the defensive units against extremely organized defensive sides such as the London club, Wirtz has found himself with reduced opportunity and room to operate.

During his time at his former club, there were games in which the midfielder would stand on the left flank while his colleagues advanced the play forward before passing to him.

Alternatively, he would position himself in central attacking midfield areas, particularly against opponents that offered more room between the defensive units in games that became more counter-attacking in style.

Former Leverkusen boss the Spanish manager utilized Wirtz well because each of these situations would allow him to receive the possession with space - meaning he could collect and drive forward with distance between himself and a opponent.

To get the maximum out of the player, delivering the possession to him when there is not instant pressure on him is optimal.

Whenever he is able to collect the ball on the turn and drive it forward - with distance between himself and the closest opponent - he is able to use body feints and a variation in speed to disrupt opposition defensive structures.

Comparably to the Merseyside club forward the England international, his finest work both on the dribble and in his distribution comes from situations in which he is carrying the possession and driving at defenders.

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

Space can be created by positioning him on the left flank initially or by passing to him in the center early. When he is positioned between the lines, particularly when an opposition's defensive shape is stretched, team-mates must therefore execute direct passes to locate the midfielder.

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

Under the manager's quicker and more rotation-based style of offensive play, Liverpool are vulnerable to counter-attacks, with fewer players supporting the play. This requires forward players like the midfielder to counter-press with intensity when the possession is turned over.

Wirtz has fully committed to the defensive directives and has pressed intensely. In attack, he is being encouraged to retreat to help in constructing play while having the freedom to contribute to attacks on both the left side and right.

All of this is demanding on fitness, and several of his subpar on-the-ball actions could be down to fatigue. Among all players to play 400+ minutes in the Premier League this campaign, the German has covered the fifth most distance per full match and the most of any Liverpool teammate.

In a recent interview with German media, the player spoke about the difference in his displays this campaign compared to last.

He stated the manager had voiced a view "it might be because we harass a lot and I cover ground a considerably".

Wirtz added: "For example, the distance covered statistics: I'm always at the forefront in that category because I try to exert maximum effort and do what the manager asks. I need a significant strength and energy for that. Whenever I have the possession, I might be lacking a small amount. That it will simply come step by step, as I play more games, improve physically, be able to do things more effortlessly, and then, when I have the ball, become {fit|conditioned