Florian Wirtz has just found short-term solution as Arne Slot changes Liverpool blueprint

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I know that we sometimes pestered him too much. In the end, Florian decided for himself what he wanted to do."City, according to the reports at the time, dropped out of the race in early May, privately admitting that the cost of the package to bring Wirtz in was too high.That left just Liverpool and Bayern jostling for position before a decision was made the same week the Reds were preparing to host Crystal Palace before lifting the Premier League title in the final fixture of the campaign on May 25.Wirtz was said to have been blown away by the level of detail planned for him by Slot, with the player's father and representative, Hans, saying: "It was important that Arne Slot spoke to Florian and explained his value to him, also his value for the future team and how he envisions the cooperation.

But the way the game is played is sometimes enormously different, because it doesn't seem so organized, but is more geared towards speed."After six defeats in seven across all competitions and four successive reverses in the Premier League - a statistic that was last seen as far back as 2009 - Slot went back to his tried-and-trusted midfield trio of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch for last week's 2-0 win over Aston Villa.They were retained for Tuesday night's 1-0 triumph over Real Madrid in the Champions League with Wirtz asked to fill in on the left side of the front three and given license to roam.It was a tactical tweak that paid dividends, with the Germany star involved in a lot of the attacking moves in front of a more durable midfield that afforded the defence more protection.Wirtz was perpetual motion against his former manager Xabi Alonso's side, running 11.3 kilometres in total to help keep Madrid penned back and if last season's midfield looks to have given Liverpool a foothold at an important juncture of the season, the potential of using the £116m summer signing off the left is one that can yield results alongside it.“What I can say about Florian is that since Xabi came in (at Leverkusen) he was mainly used in a 3-4-3 system as an inverted winger where before that he mainly played as a 10," Slot said on Friday. He will deliver, and I am rooting for him.""Florian now played off the left [against Real Madrid]," Slot added on Friday.

"But I can tell you if it is not this season it is the other season or if it is not now it is tomorrow, he will have great performances as a midfielder for Liverpool as well."Wirtz says: “Of course I am familiar with this position but I can also play just in the middle, in the 10 or on the left, and I just try to always give my best and to be important for the team.“I think I have already a good connection with my teammates on the pitch. Of course the numbers are not there now but I just try to give my best every game – that’s what I always do – and I’m happy that I can create some chances.“Hopefully in the next weeks and months we can score more but I am just trying to help the team with my strengths.”With a five-year deal signed at the age of 22, the idea of a Wirtz as Liverpool's centerpiece - marauding as the central attacking midfielder that was sold to him by Slot - is a tantalising one that has plenty of time to develop into the reality.For now, though, Tuesday's performance on the left, and the result that accompanied it, has opened up a new lane for the second most expensive signing of all time at Anfield to travel down for now.