"Liverpool's balance is off, but they are clearly going through a period of transition. Manager Arne Slot has changed his approach this season - and perhaps the loss of right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold posed bigger questions than anticipated. In a similar approach to Slot's Feyenoord team, Liverpool are looking to play with a greater number of rotations between players, progressing through the middle of the pitch with quick, small-space interplay. It therefore makes sense for Wirtz to be the central attacking force to knit everything together."
"It doesn't get the best out of Wirtz as an individual, but he hasn't been bad in this sub-optimal role. Wirtz is receiving the ball deeper more often. Alexander-Arnold was impressive in his ability to pass the ball when playing deep, and Liverpool appear to be sorely missing that quality. Captain Virgil van Dijk's long switch to forward Mohamed Salah is a great way for them to get the ball up the pitch reliably."
Florian Wirtz has made nine Liverpool appearances without a goal or assist while adapting to a deeper, less familiar attacking role. Manager Arne Slot has shifted Liverpool toward greater rotations and quick, small-space progression through central areas, placing Wirtz as a central knitting force. The loss of Trent Alexander-Arnold's deep passing has forced Wirtz to drop deeper to progress the ball, reducing his presence in scoring positions. Virgil van Dijk's long switches to Mohamed Salah remain a reliable route forward. Wirtz's performances have not been poor in the sub-optimal role, but his attacking output has been limited.
Read at www.bbc.com
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