The Reasons Why Liverpool Aren't Getting the Best from Wirtz Yet

Assessment of the German midfielder's first nine appearances for the Merseyside club has typically reached the same conclusion - it has been an disappointing beginning.

Some have been more critical. Ex- Three Lions striker Wayne Rooney said the expensive acquisition "disrupts the balance" of the team's setup.

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

Wirtz is still without a goal or provide an goal contribution for his new club, but does that paint the complete story?

Here we examine how effective he has been, why he hasn't been delivering as anticipated yet, and how the club could extract the best out of him.

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

Head coach Arne Slot has changed his tactical setup this season - and perhaps the loss of right-back the England international created bigger questions than anticipated.

Following a comparable pattern to the manager's Feyenoord team, Liverpool are attempting to operate with a greater number of rotations between teammates, progressing through the middle of the pitch with quick, small-space combination play.

It therefore makes sense for the attacking midfielder to be the primary creative hub to knit everything collectively.

But, practically, he has been tasked to do a function that is slightly different from one he is familiar with.

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

This setup fails to extract the best out of Wirtz as an individual, but he hasn't performed bad in this sub-optimal role.

Wirtz is getting the ball deeper more often.

Alexander-Arnold was impressive in his capability to distribute the play when operating in defensive areas, and Liverpool seem sorely missing that quality.

Captain the Dutch defender's diagonal passes to attacker the Egyptian winger is a effective method for them to get the ball forward consistently. Otherwise, Liverpool are missing the passing quality in defence to locate team-mates in advanced positions.

That responsibility has fallen on Wirtz at certain moments. He has been dropping deep to get the ball before changing direction and trying to drive it up the pitch. He is capable to perform this role because of his technical quality, but it is limiting the time he operates near the opposition net.

If build-up responsibilities can be taken by a different teammate, it possibly allows Wirtz to position himself more advanced the field.

The academy graduate has the capability to perform this function in a central midfield partnership or on the left flank, and may be an option the manager could consider as he aims to complement Wirtz's natural game.

Among the most significant contrasts Wirtz is experiencing in the English top flight is the reduced space and heightened pressure applied to him.

Operating centrally between the lines against very compact opposing teams such as the London club, the German has found himself with less time and room to play.

For his former club, there were games in which Wirtz would position himself on the left flank while his colleagues progressed the play forward before finding him.

Alternatively, he would position himself in central attacking midfield areas, particularly against sides that provided more room between the lines in games that developed into more counter-attacking in nature.

Former Bayer boss the Spanish manager profiled the talent effectively because both of these situations would enable him to receive the ball with space - meaning he could collect and carry 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 instant marking on him is ideal.

Whenever he is able to collect the play on the turn and carry it forward - with distance between himself and the closest opponent - he is able to use deceptive movements and a variation in speed to destabilize rival defensive structures.

In a similar manner to the Merseyside club attacker the England international, his best performances both on the dribble and in his distribution comes from situations in which he is carrying the ball and driving at players.

That is why many of Wirtz's most impressive moments this campaign have occurred in transitions.

Separation can be created by deploying him on the left flank initially or by finding him in the center quickly. When he is positioned between the lines, particularly when an rival team's defensive shape is stretched, colleagues must accordingly play forward balls to locate Wirtz.

England's top division's intensity has tactical implications but also affects players individually - and the German seems to have still not completely adjusted to this change.

With the manager's quicker and more rotation-based approach of offensive play, the team are susceptible to fast breaks, with reduced players supporting the ball. This demands attackers like Wirtz to press immediately with energy when the ball is turned over.

Wirtz has fully committed to the defensive instructions and has harassed energetically. Offensively, he is being instructed to drop deep to assist in building up while having the freedom to participate to attacks on both the left side and right flank.

This combination is demanding on fitness, and several of his subpar possession actions could be down to fatigue. Of all players to feature 400+ minutes in the Premier League this campaign, the midfielder has covered the fifth-highest ground per 90 minutes and the most of any Liverpool teammate.

During a recent discussion with German media, the player spoke about the difference in his performances this season compared to the previous year.

He stated the manager had voiced a view "it might be because we harass a frequently and I cover ground a considerably".

The midfielder added: "For example, the running stats: I'm always at the forefront there because I attempt to push hard and execute what the manager demands. I require a lot of power and stamina for that. When I have the ball, I might be missing a little bit. That this will gradually develop step by step, as I play more games, improve physically, become capable to perform actions more effortlessly, and subsequently, when I have the play, become {fit|conditioned