One of the biggest frustrations for supporters of Liverpool FC this season has been the way Arne Slot has used one of the squad’s most talented attacking players, Florian Wirtz.
The German playmaker is widely regarded as one of the most creative young players in European football, yet too often he has been deployed away from his natural number 10 role, where he can have the greatest influence on matches.
Wirtz’s Best Position
Throughout his career with Bayer 04 Leverkusen and the Germany national football team, Wirtz has thrived when playing centrally behind the striker.
From that position he can:
Pick out forward passes Drive at defences Link midfield with attack Create scoring opportunities for teammates
It is where his vision, creativity and intelligence can cause the most damage to opposition defences.
Playing Out of Position
However, at Liverpool he has frequently been used in wider roles or deeper midfield positions. While he is technically capable of playing there, it limits his ability to dictate the attacking play.
Instead of receiving the ball in dangerous central areas, he often finds himself too far from the opposition goal to make the impact he is capable of.
Getting the Best Out of Him
If Liverpool want to unlock Wirtz’s full potential, the solution seems simple — play him where he is most effective.
Allowing him to operate as the team’s main creative outlet in the number 10 role would give Liverpool a player capable of unlocking stubborn defences and adding much-needed creativity to the attack.
With the team often struggling to break opponents down this season, using Wirtz in his natural position could be one of the easiest ways to improve Liverpool’s attacking threat.
The question now is whether Slot will finally make that adjustment and give Wirtz the role where he can truly shine.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
The Kopite View 
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