Arne Slot has to realise that Florian Wirtz is suited to one position at Liverpool — and quite suited at that.
Whenever the German has been tried out wide or up top, it hasn’t worked. Most recently against Brighton, Wirtz took just two touches in the opposition box, despite playing as a striker for most of the tie.
Injuries to Mo Salah, Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike admittedly made it awkward for Slot to keep his number 10 in that creative role, but there were other ways to compensate for those absences.
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For Slot, it should now be clear that these positional experiments have to come to an end. Wirtz somewhat lacks the versatility to play across the front line, and that’s okay.
Florian Wirtz’s needs to play exclusively as a central number 10
Wirtz has 13 goal involvements in his debut season at Liverpool, nine of which came from the central attacking midfield role.
He doesn’t have the blistering pace to beat full-backs out on the wing, nor the strength to play with his back to the centre-back.
Where he is truly elite is in those central half-spaces, using his technical prowess to knit play together. Wirtz was outstanding against Galatasaray doing exactly that.
There have been reasons for switching his role, mostly due to injuries, but it’s clear that his best work is done as the hub of the attack. It’s on Slot to figure out how best to surround him, but he’s not the Swiss army knife type.
He’s elite in one role, so it makes no sense to keep forcing him out of it.
Wirtz behind Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak
Salah is edging towards a Liverpool exit, and the winger search has so far proved difficult.
As it stands, the best three attackers at the club next season will be Wirtz, Ekitike and Isak. There’s no point forcing them into a traditional front three.
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Steven Gerrard thinks Liverpool need powerful midfielders to surround the German and allow him the freedom to operate in his preferred areas. We’ll see this summer if FSG agree.
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