Liverpool could really have used a top performance from Florian Wirtz against Manchester United.
Instead, it was another frustrating afternoon for the German, who never quite managed to take control of the game. Wirtz was used as a false nine at times, but he did not do anything especially damaging in the final third, and Liverpool again looked short of attacking threat.
Wirtz is a brilliant footballer, but supporters are starting to ask where he fits best in this Liverpool team. Daniel Sturridge believes the answer starts behind him.
Which Liverpool player was most to blame for defeat against Manchester United?
Daniel Sturridge thinks Liverpool need to tailor midfield to Florian Wirtz
Liverpool signed Wirtz because he can decide matches when the team is built to get him on the ball in dangerous areas. At the moment, though, that is not happening nearly enough.
Against United, he was trying to find spaces that weren’t really there. When he dropped deeper, Liverpool lacked presence ahead of him. When he stayed higher, the service into him was not there.
Sturridge believes the issue is connected to the balance of Liverpool’s midfield.
After the loss, he said on Sky Sports: “I think the defensive midfield area is something that Liverpool have been missing for years. We had Fabinho, we had I think the midfield that we had of previous years. I think psychologically we’re already more defensive.”
When Liverpool had Fabinho at his best, the players in front of him had a different kind of freedom. They could press, run, create and take risks because they knew there was protection behind.
Sturridge says Wirtz now needs something similar.
He continued: “I think with Liverpool now, they need a guy who can come in and allow for Wirtz to be free. Because if you play Wirtz in the 10, the two defenders need to be defensive.”
If Liverpool want him to be their creative hub, they have to give him the platform to do so.
That may mean playing him as a proper number 10, with two disciplined midfielders behind him. Sturridge has essentially told Slot that Liverpool need to stop asking Wirtz to solve everything himself and start building the midfield to make the most of his strengths and cover his weaknesses.
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