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 selections at excessive velocity.
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 decide up areas between the road, has an eye fixed for the killer ball however by no means loses sight of the aim, he can rating objectives himself and could be very tenacious. A really trendy quantity 10 and a participant a variety of golf equipment needed.”
If Wirtz takes up a spot in Arne Slot’s midfield, enjoying as a conventional 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 implies Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister turn out to be weak.
The 2 share related stats, with Szobozslai creating extra ‘large’ probabilities throughout the season, serving up extra objectives and assists, and Mac Allister being the extra combative of the 2.
He might present an choice on the flank, however Liverpool’s extensive 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 fascinating one, as that will be the plain place for him to play from what we’ve seen in Germany,” mentioned Liverpool fan and Anfield Rap podcaster John Gibb0ns on BBC Radio 5 Dwell.
“However Slot loves Szobozslai, he does a lot and helps Salah. You’ll think about he’ll attempt to discover a strategy to get each of them if he can.”
That different might see Wirtz, or Szobozslai, enjoying 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 Ajax, which sees the central striker dropping to obtain passes and creating room for runs from elsewhere.
It was a method that Roberto Firmino constructed his legacy with, by dropping from ahead positions into areas the place he might hyperlink play, thus permitting the relentless Salah and Sadio Mane to prosper from extensive 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 kind.
“Liverpool with quantity nines hasn’t labored,” added Gibbons. “That is another, to as an alternative play somebody occupying that position however enjoying a bit deeper and permitting Salah and Diaz to fill that void.
“Paris-St-Germain impressed everybody enjoying that means. They did it with Ousmane Dembele up prime, who isn’t actually a striker, they usually had flying full-backs.
“Now we have introduced Frimpong in and it seems like Kerkez will likely be subsequent, so possibly he is PSG and modelling on that.”
Decide your Liverpool XI for subsequent season beneath. Now we have included each Wirtz and Kerkez within the obtainable squad, with each set to be at Anfield subsequent season.
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