For months, the debate around Florian Wirtz has been relentless.
Was Liverpool’s record-breaking investment in the German playmaker a mistake? Was he being played in the wrong position? Was the problem Wirtz himself, or was Liverpool’s tactical structure preventing him from showing his best qualities?
Now, under Andoni Iraola, the conversation is beginning to change. 👀
And the tactical images tell a fascinating story.
Wirtz is being given a platform where movement, verticality and quick combinations matter more than simply occupying a fixed zone. That is crucial because the German has always been at his most dangerous when he can receive the ball, turn, attack space and force defenders into uncomfortable decisions.
At Bayer Leverkusen, Xabi Alonso built an environment where Wirtz could constantly drift between the lines, combine with teammates and attack open spaces. Liverpool’s previous structure sometimes demanded something very different from him, with Wirtz dropping deeper and becoming involved in the build-up rather than consistently appearing in the areas where he could hurt opponents. Tactical analysts identified this as one of the reasons his attacking numbers initially failed to match expectations.
But look at the current Liverpool setup. 👇
The intention is becoming much clearer.
Wirtz operates as the No.10, while Liverpool’s midfield provides the platform behind him. That allows the German to concentrate on what he does best: finding pockets of space, connecting midfield with attack and arriving in dangerous positions.
And there is another fascinating element.
🧠 WIRTZ DOESN’T ALWAYS NEED THE BALL TO CONTROL THE GAME
One of the biggest mistakes when judging Wirtz is looking only at goals and assists.
His movement can create advantages before he even touches the ball.
When Wirtz pulls into one channel, a midfielder may follow him. That movement can open space elsewhere. When he drops toward the ball, another Liverpool attacker can sprint beyond him. When he moves away from a defender, he can suddenly receive the next pass facing forward.
That is the kind of manipulation that doesn’t always appear in a highlight reel. 🎯
Liverpool’s current coach has reportedly been extremely impressed with Wirtz’s contribution away from the traditional statistics. His pressing numbers and work rate have been particularly notable, while his understanding of attacking patterns remains a major part of Iraola’s plans.
⚡ AND THEN COMES THE TRANSITION
This is where Wirtz can become terrifying.
The moment Liverpool win the ball, the German doesn’t necessarily need to wait for the opposition to establish its defensive shape.
If there is space ahead of him, he can attack it.
If a defender steps forward, he can combine around him.
If the defence retreats, he can carry the ball toward the penalty area.
That unpredictability is exactly what made him so devastating at Leverkusen.
And Liverpool have already seen flashes of it this season.
During the Champions League victory over Atlético Madrid, Wirtz was heavily involved in Liverpool’s attacking play as the Reds recovered from an early setback to win 2-1.
🔥 THE IMAGE TELLS THE STORY
The tactical graphic above highlights one of Wirtz’s most important weapons: the ability to recognize space before it becomes obvious.
Instead of simply receiving the ball and passing sideways, the objective is to attack the space behind the opposition’s midfield.
That forces defenders to make a horrible choice.
Step forward and Wirtz can exploit the space behind you.
Stay deep and he has time to turn.
Follow him and you potentially create another opening elsewhere.
That is the chess match.
And Wirtz is one of those players who seems to see the next move before everybody else. ♟️🧠
🚨 BUT LIVERPOOL STILL HAVE A BIG PROBLEM
Getting Wirtz into dangerous positions is only one part of the puzzle.
Liverpool must also ensure the midfield behind him is balanced enough to protect the team when possession is lost.
That was exposed dramatically earlier this season. Liverpool’s midfield structure came under heavy criticism after the 2-2 draw at Newcastle, with questions raised about whether the current setup provides enough protection during transitions.
That is the tactical dilemma Iraola must solve.
You cannot simply throw Wirtz, attacking players and aggressive runners forward and expect the midfield to magically protect itself.
Liverpool need creativity AND control.
They need Wirtz free enough to create.
They need Gravenberch and Szoboszlai to cover enormous amounts of ground.
They need the full-backs to understand when to attack and when to stay.
And they need the centre-backs protected when Liverpool lose possession.
Get that balance right and suddenly Wirtz becomes a completely different proposition. 😮💨🔥
👑 THE £116M QUESTION IS CHANGING
The German arrived at Liverpool under extraordinary pressure after a reported £116 million transfer.
Naturally, every misplaced pass was analysed.
Every missed opportunity became a headline.
Every quiet performance became evidence that Liverpool had overpaid.
But football is rarely that simple.
A brilliant player can look ordinary when the structure around him doesn’t maximize his strengths.
The Premier League’s official analysis previously highlighted how Wirtz’s positioning at Liverpool differed from his Leverkusen role and how those tactical changes affected his natural attacking game.
Now, Liverpool supporters may finally be seeing the beginning of the experiment they wanted all along.
Give Wirtz freedom. Give him runners. Give him space. Give him the ball early.
And then watch what happens. 🔴🔥
The early signs under Iraola are intriguing.
Wirtz doesn’t necessarily need to score every week to dominate a match.
Sometimes he can destroy a defensive structure simply by moving into the right place.
Sometimes the most dangerous pass is the one he plays before the assist.
Sometimes the most important run is the one that drags a defender away.
And sometimes, when everything finally clicks…
Florian Wirtz will stop looking like a £116 million signing and start looking like the superstar Liverpool believed they were buying. 🥶🔴
The scary part?
He may only be getting started. 🚀🔥
For Wirtz’s Liverpool role
Show the midfield trade-off
Explain Wirtz’s best attacking zones
