Wirtz is already one of many Bundesliga’s prime performers on the age of twenty-two, largely working as a quantity 10, a dynamic playmaker blessed with tempo, consciousness and the flexibility to make intelligent choices at excessive pace.
He was the simplest dribbler of all Bundesliga gamers final season, each by way of quantity and accuracy whereas carrying the ball.
Twenty-three of his 31 Bundesliga appearances in 2024-25 got here in an attacking midfield/quantity 10 berth, though he does are inclined to drift in the direction of the left wing.
“His finest place, and the place that has been earmarked him for him in talks with Arne Slot, is that quantity 10 central position,” mentioned Honigstein. “In a barely reshuffled Liverpool, extra Dutch and extra Arne Slot group.
“He would be the fulcrum in assault. A participant who can choose up areas between the road, has a watch for the killer ball however by no means loses sight of the objective, he can rating objectives himself and may be very tenacious. A really trendy quantity 10 and a participant plenty of golf equipment needed.”
If Wirtz takes up a spot in Arne Slot’s midfield, taking part in as a standard 10, somebody has to overlook out, particularly within the 4-2-3-1 formation used so successfully final season.
It is unlikely to be Ryan Gravenberch given his rise into the anchoring position, which suggests Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister turn into susceptible.
The 2 share comparable stats, with Szobozslai creating extra ‘massive’ probabilities throughout the season, serving up extra objectives and assists, and Mac Allister being the extra combative of the 2.
He may present an choice on the flank, however Liverpool’s large areas look like underneath lock and key. Mohamed Salah holds the appropriate aspect, whereas Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo provide selection on the left.
“Salah will play the place he performs and Szobozslai is probably the most attention-grabbing one, as that may be the plain place for him to play from what now we have seen in Germany,” mentioned Liverpool fan and Anfield Wrap podcaster John Gibbons on BBC Radio 5 Reside.
“However Slot loves Szobozslai, he does a lot and helps Salah. You’ll think about he’ll attempt to discover a technique to get each of them if he can.”
That various may see Wirtz, or Szobozslai, taking part in within the centre-forward position in a 4-3-3, extra as a false 9 – a system and formation typically utilized by Slot’s former aspect Feyenoord, which sees the central striker dropping to obtain passes and creating room for runs from elsewhere.
It was a mode that Roberto Firmino constructed his legacy with, by dropping from ahead positions into areas the place he may hyperlink play, thus permitting the relentless Salah and Sadio Mane to prosper from large berths.
The output of Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez maybe factors to the central-attacking space being the one the place Liverpool lack a person in type.
“Liverpool with quantity nines hasn’t labored,” added Gibbons. “That is an alternate, to as a substitute play somebody occupying that position however taking part in a bit deeper and permitting Salah and Diaz to fill that void.
“Paris-St-Germain impressed everybody taking part in that approach. They did it with Ousmane Dembele up prime, who will not be actually a striker, and so they had flying full-backs.
“We have now introduced Frimpong in and it appears like Kerkez will probably be subsequent, so perhaps he is PSG and modelling on that.”
Decide your Liverpool XI for subsequent season under. We have now included each Wirtz and Kerkez within the out there squad, with each set to be at Anfield subsequent season.
