In his first season at the club, Florian Wirtz has played a mixed bag of football, ranging from ineffective to electric, but one way or another, it’s clear he will succeed at Liverpool.
His six goals and nine assists this season are nothing to laugh at.
While Wirtz hasn’t always had his finger on the pulse of Premier League games, with just four goals and three assists in the league, there is a constant sense that he’s so close to breaking the barrier to find the form that saw Bayer Leverkusen challenge Bayern Munich in recent years.
Last season, the 22-year-old had 16 goals and 15 assists in 45 games.
If Liverpool can find balance in their team, Wirtz will finally have a suitable setup to thrive in. Until now, tactics, lack of squad fitness and many other excuses have been provided by Arne Slot, but at some point we will see the best of the German talent.
And Steven Gerrard believes he has the answer.
Steven Gerrard calls for more pace and power around Florian Wirtz
Gerrard has called for Liverpool to use the upcoming transfer market to sign a new defensive midfielder in order to get the best out of Florian Wirtz while providing more balance to the Reds’ midfield.
Speaking on TNT Sports, the former Liverpool captain said: “This is the imbalance that I think Liverpool need to address in the next transfer window because they have bought him to be a number 10, but I think if you’re playing Mac Allister and Gravenberch in the middle and Wirtz as a 10, it’s quite lightweight.
“And I think a lot of teams have realised that and really been too strong for Liverpool in that department.
“When he moves out left, it suits the team at the moment a lot better, but I actually think his best position will be eventually more central in a number 10, but Liverpool need more powerful players around him to do that.”
Liverpool can only solve this problem with transfers
Liverpool need a natural no.6. Fabinho is the last player they had that was naturally suited to the role, and they won every tournament possible with him.
Before then, as Gerrard can testify to, they had Javier Mascherano. The Argentine remains the benchmark for Liverpool defensive midfielders in the modern era.
If you look at Manchester City, it’s not surprising they have lost their edge ever since Rodri tore his ACL in September 2024. As good as he still is, he’s not as good as when he won the Ballon d’Or.
Wirtz is a supremely talented playmaker, but wasting his energy on hard defensive running is a surefire way to not get the best out of him. Ryan Gravenberch is a talented player, was crucial to the Premier League title win last season and has so much more to offer in the future.
Yet, he is not a no.6. Not really.
Gravenberch is best when he has space to turn and run into, but using him as the fulcrum in midfield introduces too many issues. His all-action style means he constantly invites the press, and as good as he is at evading it, it’s not the most efficient way to play in that role. As an 8, he would shine even more.
With a Rodri-type character in the team, Liverpool could offer so much more protection to the back four than has been seen for years now.
