Why The Reds Aren't Getting the Optimal from Florian Wirtz Yet

Assessment of Florian Wirtz's first nine appearances for Liverpool has typically reached the same conclusion - it has been an disappointing start.

Some have been more critical. Ex- Three Lions striker the Manchester United legend stated the expensive acquisition "disrupts the equilibrium" of Liverpool's structure.

"He's a top player and I'm sure he will get better - but he's experienced a gradual beginning and I believe there's no denying that," said Rooney.

The young German is still without a goal or provide an assist for his current team, but does that paint the complete story?

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

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

Head coach Arne Slot has changed his approach this campaign - and perhaps the absence of defender the England international created bigger questions than anticipated.

In a similar approach to Slot's previous club team, the Premier League side are looking to operate with a increased frequency of rotations between teammates, advancing through the central areas of the pitch with rapid, small-space combination play.

This logically explains for Wirtz to be the primary creative hub to connect everything collectively.

However, in reality, he has been asked to do a role that is slightly different from the position he is used to.

This has reduced how often he finds himself in situations to find the net or assist.

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.

Wirtz is receiving the ball deeper more often.

The right-back was impressive in his capability to distribute the play when operating in defensive areas, and the team appear to be sorely missing that attribute.

Skipper Virgil van Dijk's diagonal passes to attacker Mohamed Salah is a great way for them to move the play forward consistently. Alternatively, the squad are missing the distribution ability in their defensive line to find teammates up the field.

That responsibility has been placed on the young German at certain moments. He has been retreating deeper to get the ball before changing direction and trying to carry it forward. He is capable to do this because of his technical quality, but it is reducing the time he spends close to the opposition goal.

If possession responsibilities can be shouldered by another player, it potentially allows the attacker to operate higher up the field.

The academy graduate has the ability to do this in a double pivot or on the left wing, and could represent an alternative the manager could consider as he looks to complement Wirtz's natural game.

Among the biggest contrasts Wirtz is encountering in the English top flight is the reduced space and heightened pressure applied to him.

Operating through the middle between the defensive units against very organized opposing teams such as Crystal Palace, the German has found himself with reduced opportunity and room to play.

During his time at his former club, there were games in which the midfielder would stand on the left wing while his colleagues progressed the play forward before passing to him.

In other situations, he would operate in middle advanced midfield positions, especially against sides that offered more room between the lines in matches that became more counter-attacking in nature.

Former Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso profiled Wirtz well because both of these situations would allow him to receive the possession with space - meaning he could collect and drive forward with distance between himself and a defender.

For extracting the best out of the player, delivering the ball to him when there is not immediate marking on him is optimal.

Whenever he is able to collect the play on the turn and drive it ahead - with distance between himself and the nearby player - he is capable to use body feints and a variation in pace to destabilize rival defences.

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

That is why several of the German's most impressive moments this campaign have come in counter-attacks.

Space can be created by deploying him on the wing initially or by passing to him in the center early. If he is positioned between the lines, especially when an opposition's defensive shape is stretched, team-mates must accordingly play direct passes to find Wirtz.

The Premier League's intensity has strategic implications but also affects players personally - and the German seems to have not yet completely adjusted to this transition.

With the manager's faster and more rotation-based approach of attack, Liverpool are susceptible to counter-attacks, with reduced players behind the play. This requires attackers like the midfielder to press immediately with intensity when the possession is lost.

Wirtz has fully committed to the defensive directives and has harassed intensely. Offensively, he is being instructed to drop deep to help in constructing play while maintaining the freedom to contribute to offensive moves on each of the left and right.

All of this is demanding physically, and some of his poor possession actions could be attributed to fatigue. Of all players to feature 400+ minutes in the top division this season, the midfielder has run the fifth-highest distance per full match and the most of any club teammate.

In a recent interview with Sky Sports Germany, the player discussed the difference in his performances this campaign versus last.

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

The midfielder added: "To illustrate, the running stats: I am always at the forefront in that category because I attempt to exert maximum effort and execute what the coach asks. I require a significant power and energy for that. When I have the ball, I could be missing a little bit. That this will simply develop step by step, as I play more games, get fitter, become capable to do things more effortlessly, and subsequently, whenever I have the ball, become {fit|conditioned