Liverpool FC News: Expert claims £100m star NEEDS to change position

Liverpool have bought world-class talents this summer, but fitting them in isn't proving easy.

Despite having known qualities, the players are going from a system they were comfortable in, to an entirely different way of playing under Arne Slot. Displacing title-winning players isn't straightforward.

Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike's situation is far simpler to work out, since they are now the Reds only senior strikers. If we have to change our tactics to get the best out of them, then so be it.

With Florian Wirtz in midfield, however, a trio is having to be split up to facilitate him and since he's been unable to hit the ground running, Slot is faced with quite the conundrum to get the balance right.

However, one expert has looked into the German's skillset and identified a few different ways that Liverpool could go to get the best of our him and one includes a potential change of position.

Wirtz to follow in Jack Grealish's footsteps

According to BBC Sport's Tactical Correspondent Umir Irfan, the Reds' attacking use of Wirtz is not going to work unless we see a couple of significant changes. He's not able to perform at his best because he's not getting on the ball in the right areas, which is actively wasting his creative talents.

In his analysis, he said: "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. Otherwise, Liverpool lack the passing quality in defence to find team-mates up the field.

"That responsibility has fallen on Wirtz at times. He has been dropping deep to get the ball before turning and trying to carry it up the pitch. He is able to do this because of his technical quality, but it is reducing the time he spends close to the opposition goal."

In essence, this is down to the lack of midfield presence that Liverpool have. Ryan Gravenberch is more involved in play, but less defensively minded, while Alexis Mac Allister is a shadow of himself.

One recent fix that Slot tried was to play Gravenberch as a centre-back for the second half of the Reds' contest against Chelsea on Saturday. In his post match comments, the head coach claimed that his tweak meant the forwards were allowed to spend more time in 'promising situations'.

However, you still felt as though Wirtz was isolated too much and the key to addressing this is through creating partnerships with the No. 10 and potential even changing his position in the XI.

The report added: "To get the best out of Wirtz, getting the ball to him when there isn't immediate pressure on him is ideal.

"In a similar manner to Everton forward Jack Grealish, his best work both on the dribble and in his passing comes from situations in which he is carrying the ball and driving at players. That is why many of Wirtz's best moments this season have come in transitions.

"Separation can be found by positioning him on the left flank initially, or by finding him in the midfield early. If he is positioned between the lines, particularly when an opposition's defensive shape is stretched, team-mates must therefore play direct passes to find Wirtz."

Of course, you might remember Grealish's £100m move to Manchester City as one of failure - since he couldn't replicate what he did at Aston Villa - although he's certainly delivering for Everton now.

When the Englishman visited Anfield just a few weeks ago, he tormented Conor Bradley all game, winning nine of 14 duels and creating four chances. It was an ideal blueprint for Wirtz to look at.

Slot might look to tinker with the player and utilise him in the different roles as mentioned above, but the reality with Liverpool is that no one is quite delivering to the level they can. Team cohesion is lacking and partnerships are still yet to form. Irfan posted to his X account that he believes Curtis Jones and Wirtz, alongside Ekitike and Wirtz, to be the biggest chemistry plays in the side.

For now, we'll have to just wait and see if such associations can blossom between the German and his teammates, but it's not that Liverpool have bought a flop for £100m, his role just needs tweaking.

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