Florian Wirtz, the Under-21 German midfield star, watched on from the bench as Liverpool opened the Premier League season against Everton. He’s still looking for his first goal and assist of the season. This begs the question of how well he’s adapting to the team. Wirtz’s role, particularly at the No 10 position, has stirred discussions about its impact on the team’s overall dynamic.
The absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold, a pivotal figure in Liverpool’s midfield, presents an opportunity for Wirtz to showcase his abilities as a playmaker. In his homeland, Wirtz earned recognition as a creator, and his potential was on display during a midweek match against Atletico Madrid, where he posed a significant threat to the opposition.
Wirtz shines as an attacker Wirtz has frequently flashed superstar potential on the pitch. His transition to life in the Premier League’s pace and physicality proves difficult. His introduction against Everton came in place of Cody Gakpo, but this substitution coincided with Everton’s most favorable spell of the game. Specifically, Wirtz created the most xG for Liverpool since coming onto the pitch, despite the fact that he had never entered a match with such big play potential (xP).
Arne Slot, Liverpool’s manager, faces a balancing act in accommodating Wirtz within an already established midfield trio that includes Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Alexis Mac Allister. Whatever the effectiveness and balance of this group, that is an impressive fit to Wirtz’s effectiveness and where they’d fit within the tactical structure.
“I see how many times he’s there to help out Conor [Bradley] with two-v-one situations, how many sprints he makes,” – Arne Slot
Slot readily admits that grudgingly making these kinds of concessions is necessary to make sure Wirtz survives and leads in this cutthroat world. His vision, he stresses, means an evolution where everyone must be flexible, not just players in the front third.
“This is the evolution of the team. We constantly try to do different things,” – Arne Slot
Ever since Wirtz came on board, it’s been a completely different story. Other young players, particularly Hugo Ekitike, are showing themselves more than ready for the challenge of leading Liverpool’s attack as the new No 9. Unfortunately, this development makes Slot’s management even more difficult. He needs to find ways to get Wirtz connected and involved while maintaining the overall cohesion of the team.
To add to the story, Alexander Isak took centre stage by making his Premier League debut for Liverpool in that very same Merseyside Derby. Wirtz is currently center stage as Liverpool runs roughshod across Bundesliga competition. They’re sitting atop the standings with a perfect record and 15 points. Despite all of this chatter, Slot is excited about Wirtz’s prospects.
“He has a bit more freedom,” – Arne Slot
Wirtz’s maiden season in this new league won’t necessarily be an easy one. We’ll need some well-placed patience and resilience. As he continues to adapt to Liverpool’s playing style, Slot emphasizes the importance of moments in football that can change the course of a match.
“We have to understand that a moment can change the game, no matter how well you play,” – Arne Slot
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