Why The Reds Haven't Yet Found the Best from Wirtz Yet

Analysis of the German midfielder's initial nine games for the Merseyside club has typically reached the same conclusion - it has been an disappointing beginning.

Some have gone further. Ex- Three Lions striker the Manchester United legend stated the £116m signing "disrupts the equilibrium" of Liverpool's setup.

"He's a quality footballer and I'm sure he will get better - but he's experienced a slow start and I think there's no question about that," commented the former striker.

Wirtz is yet to score or register an goal contribution for his current team, but does that paint the whole picture?

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

The squad's equilibrium is disrupted, but they are evidently experiencing a period of change.

Manager Arne Slot has altered his approach this season - and perhaps the absence of right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold posed bigger questions than anticipated.

Following a comparable pattern to the manager's previous club team, the Premier League side are looking to play with a increased frequency of rotations between players, progressing through the central areas of the pitch with rapid, small-space combination play.

It therefore makes sense for the attacking midfielder to be the primary creative hub to knit all elements collectively.

However, in reality, he has been asked to perform a role that is slightly different from one 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 singular talent, but he hasn't been poorly in this less-than-ideal position.

The midfielder is receiving the possession deeper with increasing frequency.

Alexander-Arnold was outstanding in his capability to distribute the play when playing in defensive areas, and Liverpool appear to be sorely missing that quality.

Skipper Virgil van Dijk's long switch to forward the Egyptian winger is a great method for them to get the play forward reliably. Otherwise, the squad are missing the passing quality in defence to locate teammates in advanced positions.

That responsibility has been placed on Wirtz at times. He has been retreating deeper to get the possession before changing direction and trying to drive it up the pitch. He is capable to do this because of his technical quality, but it is limiting the opportunities he spends near the opposition net.

If possession duties can be shouldered by another player, it possibly allows the attacker to operate more advanced the field.

Curtis Jones has the capability to do this in a double pivot or on the left wing, and could represent an alternative Slot could consider as he aims to enhance Wirtz's preferred style.

Among the biggest contrasts the player is experiencing in the English top flight is the limited space and heightened intensity exerted to him.

Operating through the middle between the lines against very organized defensive sides such as Crystal Palace, the German has been positioned with less time and room to play.

During his time at Bayer Leverkusen, there were games in which Wirtz would position himself on the left wing while his team-mates advanced the play forward before passing to him.

Alternatively, he would operate in central advanced midfield positions, particularly against opponents that provided more space between the defensive units in matches that became more counter-attacking in style.

Ex- Bayer boss Xabi Alonso utilized the talent well because both of these scenarios would enable him to receive the ball with space - meaning he could receive and drive forward with distance between himself and a defender.

To get the best out of the player, delivering the ball to him when there is not instant marking on him is optimal.

Whenever he is able to receive the play on the turn and carry it ahead - with space between himself and the closest player - he is capable to use body feints and a change in pace to destabilize rival defences.

Comparably to the Merseyside club forward Jack Grealish, his finest performances both on the dribble and in his passing originates from scenarios in which he is driving with the possession and driving at players.

This is why many of the German's best moments this season have come in transitions.

Space can be created by deploying him on the left flank initially or by passing to him in the center quickly. If he is positioned between the lines, particularly when an opposition's defensive shape is stretched, colleagues must accordingly play forward passes to find Wirtz.

The Premier League's intensity has tactical implications but also impacts players personally - and Wirtz appears to have not yet fully adapted to this transition.

Under the manager's quicker and more rotation-based style of offensive play, the team are vulnerable to counter-attacks, with reduced bodies behind the play. This demands attackers like the midfielder to counter-press with intensity when the possession is turned over.

The young talent has fully dedicated himself to the out-of-possession instructions and has pressed intensely. In attack, he is being encouraged to drop deep to help in constructing play while maintaining the licence to participate to offensive moves on each of the left side and right flank.

All of this is taxing on fitness, and several of his subpar possession actions may be attributed to fatigue. Of all players to feature 400+ minutes in the top division this season, the midfielder has covered the fifth most ground per full match and the most of all club teammate.

In a recent interview with German media, Wirtz spoke about the difference in his displays this campaign versus last.

He said Slot had expressed a opinion "it could be because we harass a frequently and I run a lot".

Wirtz continued: "For example, the running stats: I am consistently at the forefront there because I attempt to push hard and execute what the manager demands. I need a lot of strength and energy for that. Whenever I have the ball, I could be lacking a little bit. The expectation this will gradually develop progressively, as I gain more experience, improve physically, become capable to perform actions more easily, and subsequently, when I have the play, become {fit|conditioned