The Reasons Why Liverpool Aren't Getting the Optimal from Wirtz Yet

Analysis of Florian Wirtz's initial nine games for the Merseyside club has generally landed at the same conclusion - it has been an underwhelming start.

Some have been more critical. Former England striker Wayne Rooney said the £116m signing "damages the balance" of the team's setup.

"He is a top player and I'm confident he will improve - but he's had a slow start and I believe there's no denying that," said the former striker.

Wirtz is yet to score or register an assist for his current team, but is that showing the complete story?

Here we explore how effective he has been, why he hasn't been delivering as anticipated so far, and how the club could extract the best out of him.

Liverpool's equilibrium is off, but they are evidently experiencing a period of change.

Head coach the Dutch tactician has altered his approach this season - and possibly the loss of defender Trent Alexander-Arnold posed greater challenges than expected.

In a similar approach to the manager's previous club team, the Premier League side are attempting to operate with a greater number of positional switches between teammates, advancing through the middle of the field with quick, tight-area interplay.

It therefore makes sense for the attacking midfielder to be the primary creative hub to connect everything collectively.

But, practically, he has been tasked to perform a role that is somewhat altered from the position he is used to.

And that has reduced how often he finds himself in positions to find the net or assist.

This setup fails to extract the maximum potential out of the player as an singular talent, but he hasn't performed poorly in this sub-optimal position.

Wirtz is getting the possession deeper with increasing frequency.

Alexander-Arnold was impressive in his ability to distribute the play when operating in defensive areas, and Liverpool appear to be sorely missing that quality.

Skipper Virgil van Dijk's long switch to forward Mohamed Salah is a effective way for them to move the play up the pitch reliably. Alternatively, Liverpool are missing the passing quality in defence to locate team-mates in advanced positions.

That responsibility has been placed on the young German at certain moments. He has been dropping deep to receive the possession before turning and trying to carry it up the pitch. He is capable to do this because of his skill level, but it is reducing the time he operates near the opposing net.

If build-up responsibilities can be shouldered by another player, it possibly enables the attacker to operate higher up the pitch.

Curtis Jones has the capability to perform this function in a double pivot or on the left flank, and may be an option the manager could consider as he aims to enhance Wirtz's natural game.

Among the most significant differences Wirtz is encountering in the Premier League is the limited space and heightened pressure exerted to him.

Positioned through the middle between the defensive units against very organized defensive sides such as Crystal Palace, Wirtz has been positioned with reduced opportunity and space to play.

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

Alternatively, he would position himself in central attacking midfield positions, particularly against sides that offered more room between the defensive units in matches that became more transitional in style.

Former Bayer boss Xabi Alonso profiled the talent effectively because both of these scenarios would allow him to receive the ball with space - meaning he could collect and carry forward with distance between himself and a defender.

To get the maximum out of Wirtz, getting the possession to him when there is not instant marking on him is ideal.

When he is able to receive the ball on the half-turn and carry it forward - with distance between himself and the closest opponent - he is capable to use body feints and a change in speed to destabilize rival defences.

In a similar manner to Everton attacker the England international, his best performances both on the ball carrying and in his distribution comes from situations in which he is driving with the ball and running at defenders.

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

Space can be found by positioning him on the left flank initially or by finding him in the center quickly. If he is positioned between the lines, especially when an rival team's defensive shape is spread, team-mates must accordingly play forward passes to find Wirtz.

England's top division's intensity has strategic implications but also impacts players personally - and Wirtz seems to have not yet completely adjusted to this transition.

With Slot's faster and more rotation-based style of offensive play, Liverpool are vulnerable to counter-attacks, with fewer players supporting the play. This requires forward players like the midfielder to counter-press with energy when the ball is turned over.

Wirtz has completely dedicated himself to the defensive directives and has pressed energetically. Offensively, he is being instructed to drop deep to help in constructing play while maintaining the licence to contribute to offensive moves on both the left side and right flank.

All of this is demanding on fitness, and several of his poor on-the-ball actions could be attributed to fatigue. Among all footballers to play 400+ minutes in the Premier League this campaign, the German has run the fifth most distance per full match and the most of all club teammate.

In a recent interview with German media, the player discussed the difference in his performances this season versus last.

He said the manager had voiced a view "it might be because we press a lot and I run a considerably".

Wirtz added: "To illustrate, the running stats: I'm always at the top in that category because I attempt to exert maximum effort and execute what the manager demands. I require a lot of strength and energy for that. When I have the ball, I might be lacking a small amount. The expectation this will gradually come progressively, as I gain more experience, improve physically, be able to do things more effortlessly, and subsequently, when I have the play, become {fit|conditioned