Before the second round of the Premier League begins, The Athletic published an article addressing Florian Wirtz's situation, noting that while he needs specific circumstances to perform well, Liverpool has struggled significantly over the past year.

Old problems persist into the new season. Florian Wirtz's performances at Liverpool have come under scrutiny.

Since his summer transfer from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool for £116 million, there is no doubt that Wirtz has failed to meet expectations. He must bear some responsibility for his underwhelming debut season. Moving from the Bundesliga to the Premier League is inherently challenging, and he understood what that might entail when he made the move.

However, this reporting style is somewhat difficult to defend. Florian Wirtz is often portrayed as the sole underperformer on an otherwise healthy team, but that is clearly not the case. Compared to Klopp's excellent team and Slot's first season with a Premier League title-winning team, Liverpool has played clumsily and vulnerably over the past 13 months, lacking identity, fluidity, and confidence.

How many players in world football could still perform under identical circumstances? Strikers sometimes can, because their role—converting or missing chances—is relatively straightforward and binary, with added pressure. However, few players can be pushed into the heart of a team and be expected to perform regardless of the team's atmosphere or organization.

Rhythm is equally important.

In Germany, people's memories of Florian Wirtz are almost universally similar. The player always drove forward with the ball and always had the ability to accelerate further. His game relied mainly on instinct, quick decision-making, and telepathy with his teammates. Back then, his touch was light and natural, but now he plays slower and more cautiously, seemingly unsure of what he's doing.

In Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Newcastle United last weekend, there was one telling attacking move in the second half. Florian Wirtz received the ball near the halfway line and drove forward, attempting a through ball to Gakpo in the center near the penalty area. Gakpo didn't anticipate the pass and didn't start his run quickly enough to get into a shooting position, reacting a beat too late. The ball was intercepted and the attack broke down.

It doesn't matter who was responsible for this failed attack. Should Gakpo have adjusted to his teammate's pace, or should Wirtz have played the ball to the Dutch forward's feet as he prefers? These are not the most important points. What matters more is that Liverpool's attacks, particularly those involving Wirtz, break down far too frequently. Someone tries, but the timing is always slightly off.

This is neither Wirtz's sole responsibility nor Gakpo's fault. It's more like a discordant partnership where they're not providing each other with what they need. This is the context that should be considered when evaluating the situation.

Before his move to Anfield, Wirtz enjoyed a perfect environment at Bayer Leverkusen. He had a double pivot led by Xeka in front of him, providing stable through-ball supply. On the flanks, he had the wing-back duo of Grimaldo and Frimpong, who not only posed individual threats but also created space for Wirtz through their movement and positioning, providing him with pass options he could utilize.

Moreover, Alonso's Leverkusen often used the center forward not as a simple target man but as a playmaker. Whether Boniface or Schick, players in this role frequently dropped deep, creating movement outside the penalty area in positional play to draw defenders or create opportunities for Wirtz to link up with them.

The point is not that Liverpool should play like Leverkusen. Nor is it that Slot should build his new team around one specific player. Would that really work in modern football? The real insight is that Wirtz was a player shaped by his environment at Leverkusen, and the same is true at Liverpool. The only difference is that the results are completely different.

Moreover, drawing conclusions about Slot's future in England after his first official match is frankly ridiculous. The Premier League has always had examples of players who perform better or worse after changing environments.

Consider the careers of Robertson and Henderson at Liverpool itself. Their success stemmed from a high degree of fit with the team and that particular era. And look at the transfers of Nuñez or Naby Keïta. Both ultimately fell short of expectations.

Premier League teams have always depended equally on combinations as well as individuals. Torres and Gerrard. Firmino, Salah, and Mané's attacking trident—that combination was absurdly balanced and fit Klopp's playing style perfectly.

Looking further back, consider Dembélé's career trajectory over the years. He was once sidelined at Barcelona but became a Ballon d'Or winner at Paris Saint-Germain three years later. Or look at how Kane's performance at Bayern significantly improved after Luis Díaz joined Bundesliga clubs last summer.

A single player's talent alone is never enough. The key is placing him in the right environment.

Barcola is likely to join Liverpool within days, which will further alter the team's internal dynamics. He will benefit some new teammates and affect others. But until Slot truly assembles these pieces—including existing players and future signings—into a cohesive team, no one will know what role each player will perform or with what effect. This applies to Wirtz regardless of his transfer fee.

AI 번역.

AF PC사이트가 오픈했습니다! 컴퓨터에서 전체 뉴스, 댓글, 경기 상세 정보와 데이터를 확인하세요. 방문하기: www.allfootballapp.com