Why Liverpool Aren't Getting 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 underwhelming start.

Some have been more critical. Ex- England striker Wayne Rooney said the £116m signing "damages the equilibrium" of Liverpool's structure.

"He's a top player and I'm sure he will get better - but he's had a slow start and I believe there's no denying that," commented the former striker.

The young German is yet to score or register an assist for his current team, but does that paint the complete story?

In this analysis we explore how good he has been, why he hasn't been delivering as expected so far, and how Liverpool could get the best out of him.

Liverpool's balance is disrupted, but they are evidently experiencing a phase of transition.

Head coach Arne Slot has changed his tactical setup this season - and possibly the loss of right-back the England international created greater challenges than expected.

Following a comparable pattern to the manager's Feyenoord team, the Premier League side are attempting to play with a increased frequency of rotations between players, progressing through the middle of the pitch with rapid, small-space interplay.

This logically explains for Wirtz to be the primary creative hub to connect everything collectively.

But, in reality, he has been asked to perform a function that is slightly different from the position he is familiar with.

And that has reduced how frequently he positions himself in situations to score or assist.

It doesn't get the best out of Wirtz as an individual, but he hasn't performed bad in this sub-optimal position.

The midfielder is receiving the possession further back with increasing frequency.

Alexander-Arnold was outstanding in his capability to pass the play when operating in defensive areas, and Liverpool appear to be sorely missing that attribute.

Skipper Virgil van Dijk's diagonal passes to attacker Mohamed Salah is a great way for them to get the play forward reliably. Alternatively, Liverpool lack the distribution ability in their defensive line to locate team-mates in advanced positions.

This duty has been placed on the young German at times. He has been dropping deep to receive the possession before changing direction and trying to carry it forward. He is able to do this because of his technical quality, but it is reducing the time he spends near the opposing net.

If possession duties can be taken by another player, it possibly enables Wirtz to operate higher up the pitch.

Curtis Jones has the capability to perform this function in a central midfield partnership or on the left wing, and could represent an alternative the manager could consider as he looks to complement the German's preferred style.

Among the biggest differences the player is encountering in the English top flight is the reduced space and heightened pressure exerted to him.

Operating centrally between the lines against very compact opposing teams such as the London club, the German has been positioned with reduced time and space to operate.

For Bayer Leverkusen, there were games in which the midfielder would position himself on the left flank while his team-mates progressed the play forward before finding him.

In other situations, he would position himself in central advanced midfield positions, especially against sides that offered more space between the defensive units in matches that developed into more counter-attacking in style.

Former Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso profiled Wirtz well because each of these situations would allow him to get the ball with space - meaning he could collect and drive forward with distance between himself and a opponent.

For extracting the maximum out of Wirtz, getting the possession to him when there isn't instant marking on him is ideal.

When he is able to collect the ball on the half-turn and carry it forward - with space between himself and the nearby opponent - he is able to use body feints and a change in speed to disrupt rival defences.

In a similar manner to Everton attacker Jack Grealish, his best performances both on the ball carrying and in his passing originates from scenarios in which he is carrying the possession and driving at players.

This is why many of the German's most impressive instances this season have occurred in transitions.

Separation can be found by positioning him on the left flank initially or by passing to him in the center quickly. When he is positioned between the lines, especially when an opposition's structure is stretched, team-mates must accordingly execute forward balls to locate Wirtz.

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

With the manager's faster and more position-switching style of offensive play, the team are vulnerable to fast breaks, with fewer bodies supporting the play. This demands forward players like the midfielder to press immediately with intensity when the ball is turned over.

The young talent has fully dedicated himself to the defensive directives and has harassed energetically. In attack, he is being instructed to retreat to assist in constructing play while maintaining the freedom to participate to offensive moves on each of the left side and right flank.

This combination is taxing on fitness, and some of his poor possession decisions may be down to fatigue. Among all footballers to play significant game time in the Premier League this campaign, the midfielder has covered the fifth-highest ground per 90 minutes and the highest of any Liverpool player.

In a recent interview with Sky Sports Germany, Wirtz spoke about the contrast in his performances this season versus last.

He stated the manager had voiced a opinion "it might be because we harass a frequently and I run a lot".

The midfielder continued: "For example, the running stats: I am always at the top in that category because I attempt to push hard and do what the coach demands. I need a significant power and energy for that. When I have the possession, I might be lacking a little bit. That it will simply develop progressively, as I play more games, improve physically, become capable to perform actions more effortlessly, and then, when I have the ball, become {fit|conditioned