Solving a problem like Florian Wirtz: How to get the best out of Liverpool's misfiring superstar - opinion
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On paper, Liverpool’s start to the season has been very good indeed.
Even factoring in Saturday’s disappointing loss against Crystal Palace, the Reds have won seven out of eight competitive matches this term.
Liverpool fans should not be worried about their team as they bed in a number of new players and continue to come to terms with the tragic loss of Diogo Jota.
Nevertheless, there is concern creeping in over individual performances, and none are causing more alarm than those of Florian Wirtz.
Wirtz was signed to add creativity to the Liverpool squad following Trent Alexander-Arnold’s summer departure.
With Arne Slot seemingly struggling to find the right position for Wirtz, questions have been asked about how he fits into the team.
Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
It is easy to see why Liverpool decided to spend £116m on getting Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen this summer.
It also had the potential to disrupt Liverpool’s Premier League-winning system.
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While that has not happened exactly, it is clear that Wirtz is struggling to find his best form.
7 as the most forward-thinking of his midfield trio, although Wirtz has also been given responsibility to track back and help in a deeper position.
Against Crystal Palace on Saturday, Slot tried the Germany international in a different kind of role, starting from a position on the left, but having more of a free role alongside Alexander Isak.
Although it did not work especially well at Selhurst Park, we think this is actually the way to get the best out of Wirtz.
He is at his most dangerous when given space to run into and with players running ahead of him.
On Saturday Wirtz was lacking a left sided forward to link up with, but by playing three defined players in front of him, we think Slot can still get the best from the superstar signing.
Wirtz’s best football of his career so far came under former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso during the 2023/24 season.
As his Sofascore heat map from that season shows, Wirtz was popping up across the front line in almost equal measure, roaming behind the centre-forward to both create and score for himself.
He does favour the left, something Slot has clearly noticed as well, but at Leverkusen he had wing-back Alejandro Grimaldo bombing forward ahead of him at every opportunity.
This is all possible at Liverpool, where Wirtz also has higher quality players to link up with.
It may look difficult now, but in reality there have been flashes that Wirtz will shine once his role becomes more defined.