Florian Wirtz has been brought into Liverpool with a view to being the creative hub at Anfield for years to come.
As debut seasons go, it has been decent but not amazing from the German.
He has shown the quality in moments, but an inconsistent start to his time on Merseyside is evidence that there’s more to come.
Steven Gerrard likes what he has seen so far, but thinks his old club needs to add powerful players around him that can make up for the lack of physicality you would expect and accept from a technical number 10 like Wirtz.
Do you think FSG should buy another ‘feeder club’ for Liverpool?
The multi-club model is a controversial topic for some fans
Steven Gerrard thinks Liverpool need to tweak their midfield makeup for Florian Wirtz
The Liverpool legend was at Anfield for an early kick-off against Brighton, and the topic of Wirtz spurred him to give some recruitment recommendations.
Gerrard thinks the best version of Wirtz is as a central attacking midfielder, but the current options to play behind him aren’t quite what Arne Slot needs.
He says on TNT Sports: “This is the imbalance that I think Liverpool need to address in the next transfer window because they have bought him to be a number 10, but I think if you’re playing Mac Allister and Gravenberch in the middle and Wirtz as a 10, it’s quite lightweight.
“And I think a lot of teams have realised that and really been too strong for Liverpool in that department.
“When he moves out left, it suits the team at the moment a lot better, but I actually think his best position will be eventually more central in a number 10, but Liverpool need more powerful players around him to do that.”
Gerrard is a huge fan of Dominik Szoboszlai, who, like himself, has the physical attributes to play anywhere on the pitch. As for Mac Allister and Gravenberch, he’s less convinced.
Both players are technically brilliant, but we have seen Liverpool dominated in the middle of the park against teams with superior strength and legs.
Discuss: Mac Allister cannot be a starter next season
His legs look like they've gone! Who should replace him?
If Liverpool are to take Gerrard’s advice, there is no shortage of options.
Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga is a Liverpool target who would be a huge addition. I have suggested Noah Sadiki as a Premier League-proven signing with the potential to take another massive step.
Then you have a more technical option like Adam Wharton, but you risk similar physicality concerns with him.
Whoever is to come in, this is a position where it would be wise to make a significant investment. Wirtz’s ceiling is one of the best in the league, but he needs the tools around him to make that a reality.
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
