There's a Florian Wirtz problem at Liverpool but it's a strange one. It can't possibly be what was agreed.
When Liverpool signed Florian Wirtz back in the summer, it was largely because of the role he'd play. Wirtz was to be a proper no.10 for the side and represent the main attacking outlet.
We're now over halfway through the season and that hasn't really come to fruition. Wirtz doesn't even play as a central attacking midfielder a lot of the time, either.
Certainly, though, he hasn't been the main attacker. Liverpool don't turn to him for their creativity all that often, despite what many assumed would be the case when he arrived.
But it's a situation that's getting more and more bizarre. This, surely, can't be what was agreed back in May.
Florian Wirtz at his best
Once a game, Wirtz will do something that helps you remember that he's actually one of the world's best players. It happened against Arsenal, for instance.
He'll pick the ball up on the edge of the box and then just dance through three or four players to create a chance. He probably should have got a penalty for it at the Emirates.
And then Wirtz won't do it again all game. He's essentially the only player on the pitch who can pull off a dribble like that - but we see it maybe once a match.
But Liverpool just don't get him the ball in areas outside the box nearly enough. Per Fbref, Wirtz has around 33 touches in the attacking third - though, this also includes the wing - which is down from 45 at Bayer Leverkusen last season. It was 46 the season before that.
In terms of making those 'progressive carries' where Wirtz suddenly bursts forward with the ball, he's making fewer than at any point in his career. That includes the games he got as a 16-year-old in his debut Bundesliga season.
It's a similar story with take-ons. Wirtz's numbers have halved from the last two seasons with Leverkusen - down from six take-on attempts per 90 to three.
But Liverpool just don't get him the ball in areas to do it. Wirtz is typically taking quick one-touch passes near midfield or out wide-left against a packed box. The team just doesn't consistently get him the ball in the areas he's used to - and it's completely unclear why.
It feels as though this is the time to just build around Wirtz and design a system that suits him. We do get to see the magic from time to time and he's clearly a world-class talent.
But the way Liverpool are doing things means he rarely gets to show it. And that's the absolute detriment of everyone.
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