On paper, Liverpool’s start to the season has been very good indeed.
Even factoring in Saturday’s disappointing loss against Crystal Palace, the Reds have won seven out of eight competitive matches this term.
Liverpool fans should not be worried about their team as they bed in a number of new players and continue to come to terms with the tragic loss of Diogo Jota.
Nevertheless, there is concern creeping in over individual performances, and none are causing more alarm than those of Florian Wirtz.
Wirtz was signed to add creativity to the Liverpool squad following Trent Alexander-Arnold’s summer departure. But eight games into his career at Anfield, and he is yet to make any kind of meaningful contribution.
The German claimed an assist minutes into the Community Shield against Crystal Palace, but has not looked like making an impact ever since. With Arne Slot seemingly struggling to find the right position for Wirtz, questions have been asked about how he fits into the team.
Florian Wirtz needs a free role for Liverpool
It is easy to see why Liverpool decided to spend £116m on getting Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen this summer. They have lacked a creative player of his calibre for some time.
However, the 22-year-old has such a different profile to any of his new teammates that it was always going to take some time to find where he should be playing. It also had the potential to disrupt Liverpool’s Premier League-winning system.
While that has not happened exactly, it is clear that Wirtz is struggling to find his best form.
So far, Slot has tended to deploy his No. 7 as the most forward-thinking of his midfield trio, although Wirtz has also been given responsibility to track back and help in a deeper position.
Against Crystal Palace on Saturday, Slot tried the Germany international in a different kind of role, starting from a position on the left, but having more of a free role alongside Alexander Isak.
Although it did not work especially well at Selhurst Park, we think this is actually the way to get the best out of Wirtz.
He is at his most dangerous when given space to run into and with players running ahead of him. On Saturday Wirtz was lacking a left sided forward to link up with, but by playing three defined players in front of him, we think Slot can still get the best from the superstar signing.
Bayer Leverkusen offer Wirtz clue
Wirtz’s best football of his career so far came under former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso during the 2023/24 season.
As his Sofascore heat map from that season shows, Wirtz was popping up across the front line in almost equal measure, roaming behind the centre-forward to both create and score for himself.
He does favour the left, something Slot has clearly noticed as well, but at Leverkusen he had wing-back Alejandro Grimaldo bombing forward ahead of him at every opportunity. Jeremie Frimpong did the same on the right, while Victor Boniface or Patrick Schick gave him a central option.
Wirtz needs the support of players who can run past him and provide options, while also having two central midfielders who will do the dirty work. This is all possible at Liverpool, where Wirtz also has higher quality players to link up with.
It may look difficult now, but in reality there have been flashes that Wirtz will shine once his role becomes more defined. In our opinion, the way to do that is by actually putting less definition into his position, and instead firming up who and where those around him are playing.
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
