The Reasons Why The Reds Haven't Yet Found the Best from Florian Wirtz Yet

Assessment of the German midfielder's initial nine games for the Merseyside club has generally landed at the identical verdict - it has been an underwhelming start.

Some have gone further. Ex- England striker Wayne Rooney stated the expensive acquisition "disrupts the equilibrium" of Liverpool's structure.

"He is a top player and I'm confident he will improve - but he's experienced a gradual beginning and I believe there's no question about that," commented the former striker.

The young German is yet to score or register an goal contribution for his new club, but is that showing the whole picture?

In this analysis we explore how effective he has been, why he isn't performing as anticipated yet, and how Liverpool could get the best out of him.

The squad's equilibrium is off, but they are evidently experiencing a phase of transition.

Manager the Dutch tactician has altered his approach this season - and possibly the loss of defender the England international posed greater challenges than expected.

In a similar approach to the manager's Feyenoord team, Liverpool are looking to operate with a greater number of rotations between teammates, advancing through the middle of the field with rapid, small-space combination play.

It therefore makes sense for the attacking midfielder to be the central attacking force to connect all elements collectively.

But, practically, he has been asked to do a role that is slightly different from one he is used to.

And that has reduced how frequently he positions himself in positions to score or create chances.

It doesn't get the best out of Wirtz as an singular talent, but he hasn't been poorly in this less-than-ideal role.

The midfielder is getting the possession deeper with increasing frequency.

The right-back was impressive in his capability to distribute the ball when operating deep, and the team appear to be significantly lacking that quality.

Skipper Virgil van Dijk's long switch to attacker Mohamed Salah is a great way for them to move the ball forward consistently. Otherwise, the squad are missing the distribution ability in defence to locate teammates in advanced positions.

This duty has fallen on the young German at times. He has been dropping deep to receive the possession before changing direction and attempting to drive it up the pitch. He is able to do this because of his technical quality, but it is limiting the opportunities he spends close to the opposing goal.

Should possession duties can be shouldered by another player, it potentially allows Wirtz to position himself higher up the pitch.

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

One of the biggest contrasts Wirtz is encountering in the Premier League is the limited room and heightened intensity applied to him.

Operating centrally between the defensive units against extremely organized defensive sides such as Crystal Palace, the German has been positioned with less time and space to operate.

For his former club, there were matches in which Wirtz would stand on the left wing while his team-mates advanced the ball forward before passing to him.

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

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

For extracting the best out of the player, delivering the ball to him when there isn't immediate pressure on him is optimal.

When he is able to receive the play on the half-turn and drive it forward - with space between himself and the closest player - he is capable to use body feints and a variation in pace to disrupt opposition defences.

In a similar manner to Everton attacker Jack Grealish, his best work both on the ball carrying and in his distribution comes from situations in which he is driving with the possession and running at players.

This is why several of Wirtz's best moments this season have come in counter-attacks.

Space can be found by deploying him on the wing initially or by finding him in the center early. If he is positioned between the lines, especially when an rival team's defensive shape is stretched, colleagues must therefore execute forward balls to locate Wirtz.

England's top division's intensity has strategic implications but also impacts footballers individually - and Wirtz appears to have still not completely adjusted to this transition.

Under the manager's quicker and more position-switching approach of offensive play, the team are susceptible to fast breaks, with fewer players supporting the play. This requires forward players like Wirtz to press immediately with intensity when the ball is turned over.

The young talent has fully dedicated himself to the out-of-possession instructions and has pressed energetically. Offensively, he is being instructed to drop deep to assist in building up while having the licence to participate to offensive moves on each of the left side and right flank.

All of this is demanding on fitness, and several of his poor possession actions may be down to fatigue. Of all footballers to play significant game time in the top division this campaign, the German has run the fifth-highest distance per full match and the most of any club teammate.

During a recent discussion with Sky Sports Germany, the player discussed the difference in his displays this campaign compared to last.

He stated Slot had expressed a opinion "it might be because we press a lot and I cover ground a lot".

The midfielder continued: "To illustrate, the distance covered statistics: I am always at the forefront in that category because I attempt to push hard and execute what the coach demands. I require a lot of power and energy for that. When I have the possession, I might be missing a small amount. That it will simply develop progressively, as I play more games, improve physically, be able to do things more easily, and then, when I have the ball, be {fit|conditioned